i>YRON   Island. 


^.   /y'7^.^<^./^ 


A    NATURALIST 


IN     1  1 1 K 


MAGDALEN    ISLANDS; 


GIVIN(-, 


A    DHSCRirriOX   OF  Till:  ISLANDS    A\I)   LIST   ( 'F  TIIL    IlIRLS    TAKEN 
TIIERi:,    WITH    oTiIEK    ORXITIK  >LUGICAL    NOTES. 


BY 


CHARLES    B.    CORY. 


rLLCSTRATED   FROM  SKETCJIKS  />']'   71  IE   AUTHOR. 


13  o  s  r  o  N 


< 


' —  \::3 


c 


CO  r  ^■  K  Ki  H  T.  * 

CHARLES    1!.    CORY. 


A.     V. 


1S78. 


boston: 
alfred  mi;u(,e  and  son.  i'kinteks. 


rRKFACE. 


•Ix  the  following  pages  I  have  endeavored  to  describe 
the  incidents  of  a  trip  to  those  comparatively  little-known 
islands,  the  Magdalexs,  with  a  view  to  the  study  of  their 
Ornithology. 

I  have  often  thought  that  if  collectors  would  2five  a 
summary  of  the  results  of  their  expeditions,  naturalists 
would  soon  be  able  to  estimate  the  geographical  range  of 
many  species  which  at  present  we  know^  very  little  about. 

In  Part  Second  I  have  given  a  list  of  the  species,  with 
notes,  that  were  taken  or  observed. 

Several  of  the  specimens  differed  in  a  marked  manner 
from  their  usual  coloration;  but  while  giving  the  points 
of  difference  in  the  notes  reo^ardinei:  them,  I  have  felt  that 
it  would  be  too  great  a  risk  to  describe  them  as  varieties, 
as  of  late  "ears  more  than  half  of  the  "  new  birds "  have 
hardly  received  their  names  before  they  have  sunk  into 
synonymes,  thus  greatly  impeding  science. 


IV  PREFACE. 


In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  say  that  as  every  one  is  liable 
to  mistakes,  I  hope  that  my  readers  will  look  lenientlv 
upon  them,  should  they  find  any.  I  can  only  hope  that 
they  may  prove  to  be  "exceeding  few."  I  would  add 
that  I  have  followed  the  classification  given  by  Dr.  Elliott 
Coues  in  his  "  Key." 

c.  B.  c. 


cux  T  K  X  rs. 


I'A  Rr  1. 


THE     MAflDAI.KX     ISLANDS     . 


KVkOX     ISLAM)   . 


lilKI)     ROCKS 


A    DAYS    SrORT    OX    ORIXDSTOXE    ISLAND 


HOW  TO  c;i:t  tiikre 


PACE 

7 

12 


23 


28 


PART    II, 


birds    OF    THE     MAGDALEN     ISLANDS 


APPENDIX   . 


INDEX 


^I 


O 


79 
85 


A    NATURALIST 


1\    IHK 


MAGDALEN    ISLANDS 


CHAPTER    I. 

THK   ma(.;dale\'   islands. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  1878,  as  the  first  streaks  of  light 
became  visible  in  the  east,  I  climbed  to  the  deck  of  the 
schooner  '^'  Stewart  "  and  saw  for  the  first  time  that  terra 
incognita,  the  Magdalen  Islands,  rising  from  the  sea  about 
ten  miles  to  the  west,  and  stretching  northward  until  they 
faded  away  in  a  faint,  misty  line.  What  ornithologist  does 
not  feel  a  keen  sense  of  pleasure  upon  visiting  a  new  field 
of  study?  and  as  I  gazed  upon  the  gradually  nearing  land 
I  experienced  the  feelings  of  a  miner  journeying  to  some 
supposed  El  Dorado,  awaiting  with  a  keen  anxiety  for  the 
moment  to  arrive  when  I  could  begin  the  exploration  of  its 
treasures. 


8  A    NAIUKAIJST  IN   THE   MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


Many  birds  were  in  sight,  mostly  Gannets,  Terns,  and 
Gulls,  while  several  little  Petrels  were  dancing  over  the  water 
in  the  wake  of  the  vessel.  As  we  approached  the  shore 
Black  Guillemots  became  numerous,  rising  from  the  water  as 
we  neared  them  and  skimming  awa}-,  the  white  patch  of  their 
wings  showing  clearly  in  contrast  with  their  black  bodies. 
As  we  sailed  slowly  past,  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  Entry 
Island,  I  was  struck  with  the  barren  aspect  of  the  shore. 
Cliffs  from  forty  to  fifty  feet  in  height,  composed  of  red 
sandstone,  rose  almost  perpendicularly  from  the  water's 
edge,  contrasting  strangely  with  the  verdure  growing  upon 
their  summits.  To  our  left,  situated  in  a  little  valley,  we 
could  plainly  see  Amherst,  the  largest  village  on  the  islands, 
its  white  houses  looking  very  picturesque  as  they  stood  out 
in  relief  against  the  background  of  green  hills. 

Amherst  is  quite  a  thriving  little  place;  the  inhabitants 
devote  themselves  to  fishing  during  the  summer  months,  and 
do  a  very  fair  business.  Of  late  years  some  Americans  have 
built  a  factory  here,  which  they  devote  to  canning  lobsters. 
It  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  I  believe,  as  lobsters  are  very 
plenty  and  large. 


TffE   MAC  DA  LEX  ISLAXDS. 


Havre  aux  Maison,  or  House  Harbor,  is  tlic  second  in  size 
on  the  islands.  Here  we  were  kindly  received  by  I\Ir.  J. 
Nelson  Arsenault,  who  did  all  in  his  power  to  make  us  com- 
fortable. "  Vous  etes  chez  vous,  monsieur,"  he  repeatedly 
observed,  after  we  had  got  quietly  settled  in  his  pretty  little 
house. 

Here  and  at  Amherst  are  the  only  places  where  any  one 
can  be  comfortable.  On  all  the  rest  of  the  islands  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  sleep  for  the  myriads  of  lleas  and  other 
insects  which  infest  them  ;  but  here,  where  the  heat  rarelv 
exceeds  seventy  degrees,  when  winter  clothes  are  often  a 
necessity  even  in  July,  and  fresh  milk  and  good  food  to  be 
had  for  the  asking,  this  quaint  little  village  of  House  Harbor 
offers  a  splendid  field  to  the  naturalist  or  sportsman  after  a 
winter's  confinement  in  the  city. 

The    Magdalens   are   composed   of  ten   so-called  islands, 
although   they  are  all,  with   the   exception  of  Entry  Island, 
Deadman's  Island,  Byron   Island,  and  the  Bird  Rocks,  con- 
nected by  a  narrow  sand-beach,  thirtv-four  miles  in  leniith 
and  extending  from  East  Point  to  Amherst. 

This  belt  of  sand  is  covered  in  manv  places  with  urass, 


lO  A   NATURALIST  IN    THE  MAGD ALEX  ISLANDS. 

that  affords  exccllLMit  feeding  for  tlie  cattle.  The  inhabitants 
take  advantage  of  tliis,  and  during  the  suininer  months  turn 
their  animals  loose  to  shift  for  themselves.  We  often  came 
upon  large  dro^'es  of  sheej),  accompanied  by  numbers  of 
diminutive  horses,  a  peculiar  breed,  which  seem  to  be  indi- 
genous to  these  islands.  They  are  strong,  hardy  little  fellows, 
generally  weighing  from  seven  to  eight  hundred  pounds.  A 
fair  one  may  be  purchased  for  twenty  dollars,  and  the  price 
ranges  from  that  to  seventy-five. 

The  inhabitants  are  nearly  all  of  French  descent,  and  still 
speak  that  language,  although  a  Parisian  would  probably 
faint  away  if  he  listened  to  their  conversation.  I  was  very 
much  amused  to  hear  such  expressions  as  "  Faire  shake  hand'' 
or  "  La  boat  est  venu " ;  but  although  they  have  adopted 
many  English  words,  and  have  a  number  of  peculiar  idioms, 
still,  any  one  conversant  with  the  French  language  would 
readily  understand  them. 

The  scenery  in  many  parts  of  the  island  is  very  pretty. 
The  cliffs  of  soft  red  sandstone  have  been  worn  awav  in  manv 
places  by  the  action  of  the  sea,  forming  a  sort  of  catacomb 
of  caves,  some  of  them  extending  to  the  depth  of  seventy 


THE   MAG  DA  LEX  ISI.AXDS.  \  { 


feet.  At  Wolf  Island,  large  })illars  have  been  left  standing, 
seemingly  guarding  the  entranees  to  the  numerous  caves  and 
inlets.  On  a  calm  day,  a  visit  to  Wolf  Island  would  well 
repay  the  tourist  or  naturalist,  as  besides  the  beauty  of  the 
spot,  the  Black  Guillemot  {Uria  grylU)  breeds  here  in  large 
numbers. 


12  A   NATUK.-UJST  IX    T//E    MAGDALEN  ISI. A XDS. 


CHAPTER     II. 


r,YROX    ISLAND. 


One  pleasant  afternoon  we  left  House  Harbor  and  set  sail 
for  Grand  Entry  Harbor,  where  we  arrived  the  same  evening, 
and  spent  a  not  very  comfortable  night  on  account  of  the 
myriads  of  fleas,  which  are  much  more  numerous  here  than 
anywhere  else  on  the  islands.  Here,  after  some  little  trouble, 
w^e  procured  a  boat  and  set  sail  for  Byron  Island.  It  was 
a  beautiful  day,  and  our  little  craft  sailed  finely.  As  we 
passed  out  of  the  harbor  I  observed  several  American  fishing 
schooners,  their  white  sails  forming  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
deep  red  ones  of  the  island  boats.  Numbers  of  Gannets  and 
Black  Guillemots  dotted  the  water  in  every  direction,  while 
occasionally  a  seal  came  to  the  surface  and  gazed  stupidly 
at  us  as  we  passed. 

We  made  the  run  of  twentv-four  miles  In  about  five  hours, 
and  cast  anchor  in  a  little  bay,  protected  by  cliffs  that  rise  in 
some  places  over  two  hundred  feet  in  height.     In  this  isolated 


in  KOA'  isLAxn.  13 


spot  a  few  families  have  made  their  homes.     The  men  fish 
durino-  the  summer,  while  the  women  do  all  the  work  about 
the  house.      It  was  a  rather  amusing  sight  to  see  a  girl  of 
fourteen  hard  at  work  chopping  wood,  swinging  an  axe  with 
the  precision  of  a  veteran  wood-cutter. 

Byron  Island  has  an  area  of  about  four  square  miles,  and 
is  mostly  covered  by  a  thick  growth  of  diminutive  pines. 
While  rambling  around  I  observed  several  species  of  birds 
which  I  did  not  expect  to  find  on  such  a  deserted  spot. 
Among  them  were  Tachyciiieta  bicolor,  Coiyle  riparia^  Loxia 
leiicoptera^  Loxia  cicrvlrostra  var.  americana,  Sitta  canadensis^ 
and  a  few  scattered  Puffins  {Fraicrcnla  arclica).  Gulls  and 
Terns  were  abundant,  and  a  solitary  Blue  Heron  {Ardca 
Jicrodias)  stalked  with  solemn  strides  through  a  small  marsh 
wdiich  had  been  formed  in  a  depression  of  the  ground  by  the 
recent  rains. 

On  the  eastern  shore  of  Byron  Island  a  point  of  sand  runs 
out  into  the  ocean  for  several  hundred  yards,  from  which 
graiid  sport  may  be  had  in  September;  but  it  cannot  com- 
pare with  East  Point,  the  most  northern  point  of  the  con- 
nected chain  of  islands. 


14 


A   NATURALIST  IX   THE  MAGDALEX  ISI.AXDS. 


Wc  left  too  early  for  really  good  shooting.  Any  one  wish- 
ing to  visit  the  islands  for  sport  should  be  there  during  the 
month  of  September,  when  the  Ducks,  Geese,  Teal,  etc.,  are 
very  })lentiful.  The  following  is  a  list  of  some  of  the  birds 
we  shot  during  the  week  endino-  Au^^ust  20,  which  have  more 


interest  to  the  sports 
Godwits 
Yellowlcgs 
Teal 
Snipe 
Sandpipers 
Gurlew   . 
Plover    . 
Turnstones 
Duck 


nan  than  to  the 


naturalist :  — 


6 

64 
6 

9 

57 

7 

74 
21 

4 


Small  birds  may  be  kept,  by  those  who  have  not  the  leisure 
to  prepare  them  in  the  usual  way,  by  an  injection  of  carbolic 
acid,  the  "  crude "  I  think  the  best.  Take  a  syringe  and 
inject  a  small  quantity  into  the  throat  and  vent,  introduce  a 
small  piece  of  cotton  into  the  cavities  to  prevent  the  acid 
from  staining  the  feathers,  and  the  bird  is  ready  to  be  placed 


nvh'ox  /sr.A.vD. 


awav  in  its  box.  Onlv  small  birds  should  be  treated  in  this 
wav.  They  mav  be  skinned  afterwards,  if  desirable,  but  can 
never  be  made  to  look  well.  It  is  necessary  to  be  verv  care- 
ful  in  using  the  acid,  as  a  drop  of  it  on  the  flesh  hardens  it 
and  sometimes  produces  an  ulcer;  and  remember  that  a 
single  drop  of  the  acid  in  the  eye  will  totally  destroy  the 
sight. 

MAMMALS. 

There  are  no  lari/e  animals  to  be  found  on  the  islands. 
Foxes  arc  common,  and  occasionally  a  Silver  Fox  is  taken,  but 
the  latter  is  rare.  Rabbits  arc  numerous  on  some  of  the 
islands.  Seals  are  very  plenty  in  spring,  and  are  hunted  with 
eagerness  by  the  inhabitants,  as  the  sale  of  their  hides  and 
oil  forms  one  of  their  most  important  incomes.  A  man  told 
me  that  he  had  killed  one  hundred  and  eleven  in  one  day. 
They  kill  them  on  the  floating  ice,  and  their  hunting  is  often- 
times attended  with  serious  accidents.  About  seventy-five 
years  ago  the  Walrus  was  common  also.  I  was  fortunate 
cnoucrh  to  obtain  a  verv  fine  skull  from  Uvron  Island,  and 
several  tusks.  Their  bones  are  still  found  in  numbers  near 
Grand  Entrv  and  on  the  beach  west  of  Andierst. 


1 6  ^i  x.r/VA/t/./.sr  /.v  '///a  magdalux  islaxds. 


FISH. 

There  are  a  number  of  brooks  on  tlie  islands  wliich  are 
filled  with  trout,  but  none  of  them  very  large.  I  believe  the 
largest  that  I  heard  of  being  taken  weighed  about  a  pound 
and  a  half.  There  are  also  several  small  lakes,  whieh  the 
inhabitants  claim  contain  large  fish. 


IXSIXTS. 

Nearly  all  of  the  islands  are  infested  with  ficas  and  other 
small  insects,  which  renders  it  very  uncomfortable  to  camp 
in  the  open  air.  Mosquitoes  do  not  appear  to  be  very 
plenty,  as  we  were  troubled  but  little  by  them,  and  what  few 
there  were  seemed  to  have  a  great  respect  for  tobacco  smoke; 
so  by  a  judicious  use  of  that  narcotic  we  were  enabled  to 
enjoy  many  pleasant  moonlight  evenings  in  comparative 
comfort. 


Bird  Rock. 


liiKD   ROCKS. 


CHATTER     HI. 


IJIRI)    ROCKS. 


>^i 


^t^G^S^Si^-^-^^'^ 


.-r^-»%r^i:-l^ 


fv- 


^Q.«iC»  "" 


I  HAD  heard  such  fabulous  stones  rec^ardinG:  tlie  numbers 
of  birds  that  frequent  the  Bird  Rocks  that  I  determined  on 
visiting  them  ;  so  one  mornir.g,  having  a  fair  wind,  \vc  started, 
taking  with  us  our  man  of  all  work,  "  Metrick,"  and  the  owner 
and  captain  of  the  little  craft  by  courtesy  called  a  boat. 

The  "Rocks"  are  situated  about  twelve  miles  to  the  north- 
east of  Byron  Island,  and  can  only  be  visited  during  very 
calm  weather,  as  otherwise  it  would  be  impossible  to  land. 
3 


I  8  ^    NA7Uf:ALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  I^LAXDS. 


Even  when  perfeetly  calm,  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  pilot  a 
boat  safely  among  the  partly  submerged  rocks  in  front  of 
the  beach.  As  we  approached  "  Little  Bird,"  which  is  sit- 
uated about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  its  larger  companion,  it 
presented  the  appearance  of  being  covered  with  snow.  "Des 
moineaux,"  remarked  the  captain,  and  so  it  was.  The  rock 
was  covered  with  birds,  —  literally  packed,  —  hardly  a  spot 
was  left  uncovered.  Thousands  of  Gannets  and  Puffins 
were  perched  upon  every  conceivable  projection. 

As  we  passed  close  to  them,  many  of  the  Gannets,  which 
were  constantly  passing  and  repassing  from  one  reck  to  the 
other,  sailed  within  a  few  yards  of  us,  their  black-tipped 
wungs  and  pure  white  plumage  giving  them  a  very  pretty 
appearance.  Every  few  moments  some  one  of  them  would 
suddenly  close  its  wings  and  descend  with  the  speed  of  an 
arrow,  disappearing  completely  beneath  the  water,  and  they 
generally  reappeared  holding  some  unlucky  fish  in  their 
beaks  wdiich  had  allowed  itself  to  approach  too  near  the 
surface. 

Bird  Rock  rises  in  a  nearly  perpendicular  cliff  to  the 
height  of  one   hundred   and   two   feet,   and   has   about  four 


BIRD   /COCA'S. 


19 


square  acres  of  ground  upon  its  summit.  Here  for  the  last 
few  years  a  lighthouse  has  bjen  established,  and  the  men 
stationed  here,  ^vhen  they  found  that  we  wished  to  land, 
lowered  a  small  platform  by  the  aid  of  a  crane  and  windlass 
for  our  accommodation. 

By  the  aid  of  a  little  careful  packing,  we  were  enabled  to 
place  everything,  including  ourselves,  upon  this  substitute  for 
an  elevator.  The  box  or  tray  in  which  we  were  seated  was 
about  four  feet  square,  with  six-inch  sides.  When  we  were 
all  snugly  packed  away,  it  is  unnecessary  to  state  that  we 
were  somewhat  crowded;  but  just  then  a  faint  voice  came 
to  us  with  a  questioning  "All  right?"  and  I  had  hardly  waved 
mv  hand  in  answer,  when  we  becran  to  ascend.  As  we 
moved  slowly  up  within  a  few  feet  of  the  cliff,  we  were 
enabled  to  form  some  idea  of  the  immense  quantities  of  birds 
which  breed  here.  Gannets,  PufHns,  Razor-billed  Auks,  and 
Guillemots,  together  with  an  occasional  Kittawake  Gull,  were 
sitting  upon  the  ledges  in  long  rows,  some  upon  eggs,  but 
most  of  them  were  mixed  up  with  young  ones  of  all  shades 
and  sizes,  from  those  nearly  able  to  ily  to  the  downy  little 
fellows  apparently  just  from  the  shell.    Around,  above,  below. 


20  ^^    AA7U/^AL/Sr  l.V    71/F.    MAGDALEN  JSf.ANDS. 

everywhere  in  fact,  the  air  was  full  of  birds.  Those  on 
the  lecbes  ciid  not  offer  to  flv,  but  sat  still  and  stared  at  us 
stupidly.  The  air  was  tainted  with  the  odor  arising  from 
hundreds  of  fish  in  all  stages  of  decomposition.  Such  a 
horrible  clamor  was  kept  up,  too.  One  can  never  realize 
the  sight  until  it  has  been  seen.  About  half-way  up,  the 
captain  and  our  man  began  to  tremble  and  turn  pale.  The 
way  they  hung  on  to  the  chains  was  a  beautiful  sight  to  see. 
I{ver3'  few  feet  the  chain  would  run  over  itself  as  it  was 
wound  up  by  the  windlass,  and  in  slipping  back  to  its  place 
it  gave  us  a  slight  jerk,  that  caused  the  captain  to  mutter  his 
prayers  faster  than  ever. 

The  ascent  took  twenty-seven  minutes,  and  it  really  is  not 
a  pleasant  sensation  being  swung  about  over  a  hundred  feet 
in  the  air,  supported  only  by  a  rusty  chain.  As  we  neared 
the  top,  the  captain  kept  crying  out,  "  For  God's  sake,  hurry!" 
and  when  we  were  swung  over  the  cliff  above  solid  ground, 
he  gave  a  deep  sigh  and  swore  that  if  he  got  down  alive  he 
would  never  a^rain  make  the  ascent. 

We  were  kindly  received  by  j\ir.  Peter  Whalen,  the  light- 
keeper,  and    after  a  dinner  on   Guillemots'   eggs   we  made 


BIKD   ROCKS.  21 


the  circuit  of  the  island,  accompanied  by  our  genial  host. 
Only  in  very  calm  weather  can  boats  come  ashore  here,  as 
they  have  to  run  under  the  cliffs  and  land  upon  a  small, 
rocky  beach,  the  only  place  where  it  is  safe  for  a  boat  to 
approach  the  island.  Mr.  Whalen  told  me  that  the  supply- 
boat,  w  uch  comes  here  twice  a  year,  oftentimes  has  to  wait 
davs  before  she  can  land  the  stores. 

1  was  very  much  pleased  to  observe  specimens  of  Sitta 
canadensis  and  Cotyle  riparia,  the  former  being  very  tame, 
and  making  itself  quite  at  home  about  the  lighthouse,  and 
to  obtain  a  fine  immature  specimen  of  the  Arcadian  Owl 
[Nyctalc  arcadia).  Mr.  Whalen  showed  me  specimens  of  the 
Hlack  and  Yellow  Warbler  {Dcjidrocca  macniosa),  Yellow- 
rumpled  Warbler  {Dendrocca  coronata),  and  Richardson's 
Owl  (^Nyctalc  tcngmalmi  var.  Richardsonii),  which  he  stated 
he  obtained  here  in  June,  and  that  many  species  of  small 
birds  come  to  the  "  Rock,"  of  which,  unfortunately,  he  did 
not  know  the  names,  and  had  not  preserved  the  skins. 

Five  species  of  birds  breed  here  every  year,  in  such  num- 
bers that  the  fishermen  used  to  gather  their  eggs  by  the 
barrel  until  the  government  put  a  stop  to  it.      These  five 


2  2  //    NATURALIST  IN   THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


species,  tlie  Gannet  {Srila  bassana).  Common  Guillemot  [Lorn' 
via  troilc),  Razor-billed  Auk  {Ulamania  torda),  Kittawake 
Gull  {Larus  Iridactyhis),  and  the  Pufiin  (Fratcrciila  arctica), 
with  the  exception  of  the  latter,  which  generally  breeds  in 
a  hole,  rear  their  young  side  by  side,  and  appear  to  live 
as  amicably  as  possible. 


A   DAY'S  SFOh'T  O.V  GKIXOSTOXE  ISI.AXD.  23 


CHAPTER     IV. 

A    DAY'S    SPORT   ON   (iKINDSTONE    ISLAND. 

Let  me  try  to  sketch  a  clay's  sport  to  be  had  on  these 
charming  little  islands.  To  do  this,  I  do  not  know  that  I 
can  do  better  than  to  give  an  extract  from  my  journal. 

Tuesday,  Aug.  20,  1878.  —  As  I  arose  and  opened  my 
vvlndow  the  soft  notes  of  the  Blackbreast  Plover  were  borne 
faintly  to  me  by  the  morning  breeze.  The  air  was  crisp  and 
cold ;  and  although  the  sun  was  shining  brightly,  a  strong 
wind  still  continued,  making  it  impracticable  to  try  and  reach 
the  shooting-ground  by  boat ;  so  after  a  hearty  breakfast  we 
harnessed  up  our  little  horse  and  started  around  by  road,  a 
distance  of  about  four  miles.  As  we  passed  in  and  out  of 
the  clumps  of  woods,  numbers  of  birds  w^ere  constantly  to  be 
seen,  filling  the  air  with  their  cheerful  little  songs.  Robins, 
Snowbirds,  and  Blackpoll  Warblers  appeared  to  be  the  most 
common    species.     Numbers  of  Sparrows  were   incessantly 


24 


A   NATURALIST  IX   TIIK   MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


darting  in  and  out  of  the  undergrowth,  while  an  occasional 
Crow  saikd  slowly  across  the  road,  until  perceiving  us  he 
would  hurry  away,  uttering  a  parting  "caw"  of  joy  at  his 
supposed  lucky  escape.  Curlew  were  very  abundant,  but 
shy,  as  they  always  are.  At  times,  large  flocks  w^ould  rise 
from  the  fields  and  fly  silently  for  a  few  hundred  yards 
before  ac^ain  alio^htinG^  in  some  field  more  secure  from  obser- 
vation  ;  and  sometimes,  although  none  could  be  seen,  their 
soft,  trilling  whistle  would  be  heard,  as  though  some  watch 
ful  sentinel  was  giving  notice  to  his  companions  of  our 
whereabouts. 

As  we  crossed  the  beach  to  our  "stands"  large  flocks  of 
Plover  and  Yellowlegs  started  up  in  front  of  us,  but  they  did 
not  fly  far,  the  wind  being  too  strong  for  them  to  remain 
long  exposed  to  it. 

Hardly  had  I  got  fairly  settled  in  my  box  before  a  flock  of 
about  a  dozen  Blackbreast  Plover  settled  among  my  decoys, 
from  which  I  bagged  four  with  the  first  barrel,  and  another 
with  the  second.  I  had  just  picked  them  up,  and  was 
returning  to  the  "stand,"  when  a  Mudsonian  Godwit  lit 
among  the  decoys  without  paying  the  slightest  attention  to 


A    /\4y'S  S/'ORT  ON  GRIND^TOXE   ISf.AXD.  2^ 


me.  He  apparently  came  to  the  conclusion  that  they  were 
not  of  his  own  kind,  for  after  looking  around  for  a  moment 
he  started  away,  passing  almost  directly  over  my  box,  into 
which  he  nearly  fell  when  I  shot  him.  Vellowlegs  (Toia)ius 
iiiclauolcucus)  w^ere  very  abundant,  and  I  was  amused  to  see 
my  friend  kill  five  young  birds  of  that  species,  one  after 
another,  which  allowed  him  to  walk  within  shot  of  them. 

The  marsh  in  which  I  had  placed  my  "box"  extended  in 
an  unbroken  line  for  nearly  twelve  miles,  and  is  sheltered  on 
either  side  by  sand-hills  that  rise  from  twenty  to  fifty  feet  in 
height.  Here  the  birds  love  to  feed,  especially  on  a  stormy 
day,  as  they  are  protected  from  the  wind  by  the  sand-hills, 
and  find  plenty  of  food  among  the  rich  grass,  and  in  the 
large,  shallow  pocls  of  brackish  water. 

Sandpipers  in  large  fiocks  were  constantly  passing  and 
repassing;  in  fact,  I  found  the  shooting  here  to  have  all  the 
pleasure  of  deep-sea  fishing,  in  the  uncertainty  of  what  would 
next  be  taken. 

I  had  just  shot  a  fine  specimen  of  the  great  Blue  Heron 
(Ardej  herodias),  when  a  fiock  of  Teal  passed  on  one  side  of 
me,  while  a  fiock  of  about  twenty   Plover  were  passing  on 


26 


A    NATUKAl.lsr  /.V    TflE   MAG  DA  I.  EX  /SLA.\'DS. 


the  other.  In  trviivj:  to  do  too  nuicli,  1  did  nothini^;  for  I 
ox\\y  oljtained  one  Teal.  Later  in  the  fall,  tliis  is  a  grand 
place  for  Geese,  which  come  in  here  to  drink  and  wash  them- 
selves in  the  numerous  pools  of  partly  fresh  water. 

On   this   day  we   made   quite    a  varied  bag,  which   I  give 
in  detail :  — 


Hudsonian   Curlew 
Hudsonian  God  wits 
Blackbreast  Plover 
Golden    Plover 
Semipal mated  Plover     . 
Turnstones     . 
Greater  Yellowleg^. 
Yellowlegs 
Least  Sandpipers  . 
White-rumpled  Sandpipers 
Pectoral  Sandpiper 
American  Dunlin  . 
Semii)al mated  Sandpipers 
Wilson's  Snipe 
Red-breasted  Snipe 
Teal       .... 
Blue   Heron    . 


I 

2 

20 
2 

9 
5 

12 


9 


1 
I 

5 

2 

4 
I 

I 


95 


A   DAY'S  SrORT  ON  GR/XDSTONE   ISLAND.  2 J 

Ravens  were  very  common.  I  must  have  seen  over  a 
dozen  of  them.  Gulls  were  also  numerous,  mostly  in  large 
flocks,  as  if  preparing  to  go  south. 

On  the  way  back  I  observed  a  Short-eared  Owl  {^Bracliy- 
otiis  paliistris)  flying  low  over  a  field,  but  was  unable  to 
obtain  a  shot  at  it. 

We  were  very  hungry,  and  were  glad  enough  to  find  that 
our  hostess  had  been  on  the  watch  for  us,  and  had  dinner 
all  ready  upon  our  arrival.  Any  one  who  knows  how  hungry 
a  man  can  get  after  a  hard  day  s  shooting  will  appreciate,  as 
we  did,  the  dinner  which  we  sat  down  to,  beginning  with 
Plover  and  Curlew,  cooked  to  a  turn,  boiled  potatoes,  corn 
bread,  white  bread  and  jelly,  and  ending  with  an  old-fash- 
ioned plum  pudding,  with  hot  coffee  and  cold  spring  water 
to  wash  them  down. 

After  dinner  it  was  our  custom,  in  fine  weather,  to  roll 
into  the  hammocks  in  front  of  the  house  and  enjoy  our 
cigars  in  the  moonlight,  while  the  only  sounds  that  broke 
the  peaceful  silence  of  the  scene  were  the  occasional  "  good- 
night "  notes  of  the  Golden-crowned  Thrush  and  the  indis- 
tinct sound  of  the  waves  breaking  upon  the  beach. 


28  A   A' A  TURA LIST  IN  THE   MA G DA L EN  ISL A NDS. 


CHAPTER     V. 


HOW   TO   GET  THERE. 


There  is  an  old  saying  that  "  Knowledge  can  do  no 
harm,"  and  therefore  I  do  not  think  that  a  few  remarks 
on  the  ways  and  means  of  getting  to  the  islands  will  be 
out  of  place  here. 

From  St.  John,  N.  B.,  to  Pictou,  N.  S.,  is  a  ride  of  about 
sixteen  hours,  and  tiresome  enough  it  is,  too ;  leaving  St. 
John  at  half  past  eight  in  the  morning,  and  arriving  at  Pictou 
at  about  ten  o'clock  the  same  evening.  The  best  hotel  in 
Pictou  is  the  St.  Lawrence  House. 

From  Pictou  the  steamer  "Albert"  runs  twice  a  month 
to  the  Magdalen  Islands,  in  fine  w^eather  touching  at  George- 
town and  Souris,  P.  E.  I.  Another  way  of  getting  there, 
for  those  who  have  plenty  of  time  at  their  disposal,  is 
to  go  to  Souris,  P.  E.  I.,  and  charter  a  schooner,  or  stop 
there    and  wait   for  the  "Albert."      Souris  offers  some  fair 


I/O  IV   70   GET   Til  EKE.  29 


shootiiiix  In  the  season,  and  also  some  verv  crood  trout 
fishing. 

Good  accommodations  can  be  obtained  at  the  Bay  \'ie\v 
House,  owned  by  James  McDonald,  Esq.  No  delicacies 
can  be  obtained  there.  Such  thin^rs  as  i^ood  coffee,  etc., 
should  be  purchased  in  St.  John. 

On  the  Magdalens,  at  Amherst  Harbor,  will  be  found 
plenty  of  quaint  little  places  to  stop  at.  Those  kept  by 
Mrs.  Burns  and   Mrs.  Shea  are  to  be  recommended. 

At  House  Harbor,  Mr.  J.  Nelson  Arsenault  will  do  all  in 
his  power  to  make  any  one  comfortable.  Mr.  Boudrou  will 
also  take  a  few  boarders. 

On  all  the  other  islands  the  traveller  must  depend  upon 
the  hospitality  of  the  inhabitants. 


PART   II. 


CATALOGUE 


OF 

BIRDS   TAKEN    OR   OBSERVED 

IN   THE 

MAGDALEN  ISLANDS, 

WITH 

NOTES    REGARDING    THOSE    FOUND    BREEDING, 

Etc  ,  Ere. 


CATALOGUE. 


I.     r  URDUS  MIGRATOR /us,  L. 
(Romx) 

This  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  birds  on  the  islands. 
Many  of  the  specimens  taken  varied  greatly  in  coloration 
and  size. 

It  is  just  possible  that  some  few  birds  may  remain  all 
winter,  as  I  was  told  by  the  inhabitants  that  they  often  ob- 
served them  as  late  as  December. 

Breeds. 

2.     TURDUS  PALLAS/,  Cab. 
(Hermit  Tiikush  ) 

The   present   species    was    not    uncommon.       I    procured 
specimens  of  both  young  and  old  birds. 
Breeds. 


34  ^   NATURALIST  ly   THE    MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


3.     TURDCS  Sll'A/NSON/,  Cab. 
(Olivh-kackei)  Thrush.) 

I  do  not  think  it  is  at  all  uncommon,  althouoh  but  one 
specimen  was  taken,  an  adult  male. 
Probably  breeds. 


'G' 


4.     AflMi'S  C.IROLINKXS/S,  (L.)  Gr. 
(Catt'.ikd) 

I  include  this  species  with  hesitation,  as  we  did  not  take 
a  single  specimen;  but  upon  two  occasions  I  heard  what  1 
believed  to  be  its  peculiar  cry. 


5.     SAXICOLA    (I'.XAXTflE.  (L.)  Uechsiein. 
(Stoxe  Chat.) 

On  August  2  2,  while  walking  along  a  narrow  roadway, 
a  bird  suddenly  started  up  in  front  of  me  and  lit  on  a  fence 
a  few  yards  away.  It  was  very  tame,  and  allowed  me  to 
approach  within  a  few  feet  of  it,  while  it  sat  cocking  its  head 


CATALOGUE.  3^ 


knowingly  from  side  to  side.  Unfortunately,  I  had  no  gun ; 
but  there  was  no  mistaking  a  bird  so  well  known  to  me  as 
Saxicola  Q:nanthc,  having  taken  a  series  of  over  fifty  speci- 
mens In  Egypt,  where  it  Is  very  abundant. 

It  can  only  be  considered  as  a  straggler,  although  "  Dr. 
H.  R.  Storer  found  them  breeding  in  Labrador,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1848,  and  procured  specimens  of  the  young  birds." 
(V^'ol.  I,  p.  60,  Bd.  Bwr.  Ridgw.  Bds.  N.  .\merica.) 


6.     REGULUS  SATRAPA,   Licht. 
(Golden-crested  Kingle];.) 

Quite  common.     Several   were   taken   at    House    Harbor, 
including  one  immature  specimen. 
Breeds. 


7.     VARUS  ATRICAPILLUS,  L. 
(Black-capped  Chickadee.) 

Abundant  in  the  thickly  wooded  parts  ot  the  islands. 
Probably  breeds. 


^6  ^t    NA'J  i'RALlST  IX    'J'lIE   MAGDALhN   /SLA  A  VS. 


8.     J'ARUS  Hl/DSO\IC(JS,   Forsicr. 
(HuDsoxiAx  Titmouse.) 

Not  uncommon,  but  does  not  appear  to  be  as  plenty  as 
the  last  species.  We  found  it  quite  abundant  at  House 
Harbor. 

9.     SITTA    CANADEXSIS,   L. 
(Ked-bellied  Nuthatch.) 

Appears  to  be  common  on  some  of  the  islands.     At  Ih'rd 
Rock  it  came  into  the  li'^'hthousc  without  the  least  siirns  of 
fear,  and  began  hopping  around,  looking  for  its  food,  without 
paying  the  slightest  attention  to  us.     1  also  observed  several 
on  Byron  Island. 

Breeds. 

10.     ANORTllURA    I'ROGLODYTES,  (Z.)  O. 
var,  HVii.MALis,  {IVils^  Cs. 

(Winter  Wren.) 

Rather  common.  Killed  three,  and  observed  several 
others. 


CAIWLOGUK.  37 


I!.     KREMOrillLA    ALPESTKIS,   {Forst.)   Ihn'e. 

(SiiORi:  Lakk.) 

I  procured  a  single  specimen  from  Mr.  William  Perham, 
which  he  had  killed  on  Byron  Island.  It  was  a  fully  Hedged 
young  bird,  still  retaining  the  spotted  back.  No  otliers  were 
observed  during  our  stay  on  the  islands. 

Breeds. 

12.     MIXOTILTA    VAK/A,  {L.)    l\ 
(Black-and-white  Crekper.) 

My  first  Creeper  was  taken  on  July  27,  and  I  observed 
them  afterwards  occasionally.  It  cannot  be  considered  an 
abundant  species. 

Probablv  breeds. 

13.     DEWKlECA    .estiva,  iOm.)  Bd. 

(SLMMER    WARr.LF.R.) 

Common  during  the  month  of  July;  hardly  a  day  passed 
without  our  seeing  one  or  more  of  them ;  but  after  August 
1 5  they  became  quite  scarce. 

Breeds. 


38  A   NATURALIST  IN   THE  MAGi'ALEN  ISLANDS. 


14.  DEXDRCECA    CORONATA,  {L.)  Gr. 

(Yi:llo\v-rumpled  Waruler.) 

Abundant    on    all    the    islands,   especially   so    at    House 
Harbor. 
Breeds. 

15.  DEXDRQZCA   STRIATA,  {Forst.)  Bd. 

(Black-poll  WARr.LEu.) 

Very  common  until  September.     We  procured  a  number 
of  specimens  of  young  birds. 
Breeds  abundantly. 


16,     DENDRiECA    MACULOSA,  {Gm.)  Bd. 
(Black-and-vellow  Warbler.) 

While  at  Bird  Rock  I  was  shown  a  mummified  specimen 
of  the  present  species.  It  had  been  killed,  and  kept  as 
being  a  "  pretty  bird  " ;  and  having  no  means  of  preserving 
it,  they  had  simply  injected  it  v/ith  salt  and  hung  it  up  to 
dry.     It  was  taken  in  June. 


CATALOGUE. 


39 


I/.     Srii'liL'S  ACROCAr/LLL/S,  (/..)  S\u. 

(GOLDHX-CKOWXED    ThRUSH.) 

Unfortunately,  I  was  unable  to  obtain  a  single  specimen, 
but  they  appear  to  be  quite  common.  Often,  on  pleasant 
evenings,  I  have  sat  and  listened  to  their  almost  unmistak- 
able notes,  and  counted  as  many  as  four  of  them  singing 
in  one  small  natch  of  woods. 

Probably  breeds. 

iS.     SE/rRrS  XOl'EnORACEXSlS,  {Gm.)  Xutt. 

(Water  Thrush  ) 

Procured  the  first  specimen  July   19,  and   another  a   few 
days  later.     Both  were  males. 
Probably  breeds. 

19.     SETOPHAGA    RUTICILLA.  {I. )  S^u. 
(Redstart.) 

Very  plentiful  all  over  the  islands  wherever  woods  are 
to  be  found.  They  begin  to  leave  for  the  South  about 
August  18. 

Breeds. 


40  //   NATURAUST  I.\    J  III]   MACDALEX  ISLANDS. 


20.      TACinCIXETA    lUCOI.OR,   (/'.)   Cs. 
(\Vnnr:-i;i:LLii:i)  vSwALf-ow.) 

Observed  it  occasionally  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
month  of  July.  The  last  specimen  procured  was  shot 
August  6.     Does  not  appear  to  be  very  abundant. 


2r.     COrVLK    RIPARFA,  (/..)  Boic. 
(Bank  Swallow  ) 

Very  abundant  everywhere  from   Bird  Rock  to  Amherst. 
P)reeds. 

22.     AMPKLIS  CEDRORUM.  {V.)  Bd. 
(Cedar  Bird.) 

Not  at  all  common.  Observed  a  small  flock  on  July  26, 
and  another  Auirust  6.  On  Auu:ust  21  I  killed  a  vouncr 
bird  hardly  able  to  fly. 

Breeds. 


CATAl.OCrE. 


41 


23.     riXICOLA    F.XL'CI.EATOR,  {L.)  V. 

(PlNF    (SkoSIIEAK.) 

A  rather  scarce  bird  on  the  islands.  Mr.  Perham  sliot 
one  in  July,  and  I  observed  two  a  few  days  later  and  took  one 
August  9. 

Probably  breeds. 


24      CARPODACl'S  PCRFCRKO'S,  {(h;i.)  tlr. 
(Puki'l::  Fin'ch.) 

Did    not   find    it   common.      One    sj^ecimen    was    taken 
August  3,  and  another  on  the  5th. 


25.    LOX/A    I.FMCOPTKRA,  {IVils) 
(WniTr>\vi\c;i-.i)  Ckossiull.) 

A  common  species.  I  found  it  abundant  in  the  thick  pine 
woods  of  the  southern  islands.  Several  full-grown  young 
and  adults  were  taken  in  July.  It  probably  breeds  here 
early  in  the  spring.     It  has  a  pleasing  song. 

6 


42 


A    NATUl^AI.IST  IN   THK   MAG  DA  f.  EX  ISLANDS. 


26      LOXIA    CIRVIROSI RA  7'ar.  A J/Z-AVCA XA ,  {ir//s.)  Cs. 

(Common  Crossbill.) 

Abundant,  and  very  tame  in  the  woods  near  House  Har- 
bor.    I  also  procured  a  specimen  on  Byron  Island. 
Breeds. 

27.     yEGEOTHUS  LINARLU  (/. )  Cab. 
(Rkd-i'OLl  Llnnkt.) 

I  include  the  present  species  with  great  hesitation.  On 
August  3  a  bird  was  brought  to  me,  in  a  terribly  mangled 
condition,  which  I  believed  to  be  ^EgcotJms  linaria.  No 
others  observed  or  taken. 


28.     CHRYSOMITRIS  PINL/S,  {VVils)  lip. 
(Pine  Linnet.) 

A    single  specimen,   taken   July  30,  which   proved   to   be 
an  adult  male. 


CATALOGUE.  43 


29.  PASSE RCL/LUS  SAVAXXA,  (lJ\7s.)  Up. 

(Savanna  Sparrow.) 

An   abundant  species.      It  was   very  common   at    House 
Harbor,  where   I  procured  a  fine  series  of  specimens. 
Breeds. 

30.  POOECETES  GRAM  EXE  US,  {Gm.)  P>d. 

(Bay-wingkd  Bunting.) 

A   rather  common   species,  but   not   nearly  as   numerous 
as  the  last. 

Probably  breeds. 


31.     MELOSPIZA    P  ALUS  PIUS,  (IVi/s.)  Bd. 
(Swamp  Sparrow  ) 

I  believe  it  to  be  common,  although  only  four  specimens 
were  obtained ;  but  this  would  be  accounted  for  bv  their 
retiring  habits.  I  have  often  nearly  stepped  upon  them 
before  they  would  take  to  flight. 

Breeds. 


44  ^   NA7URALIST  L\    THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


32.     MIiLOSriZA    MELODIA,  iWils)  Bd. 
(Song  Sparrow  ) 

It  cannot  be  considered  as  common ;  only  two  specimens 
were  taken,  but  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  is  a  regular  summer 
visitor,  and  breeds  here. 


33.     yew  CO  HVEMAEIS,  (A.)  Sci. 
(Snowbird.) 

An  abundant  species.  They  were  very  tame,  and  came 
around  the  house  fearlessly.  On  July  18  I  discovered  a  nest 
containing  young  birds  nearly  able  to  fly.  The  old  birds 
showed  their  anxiety  as  I  approached  by  flitting  from  one 
branch  to  another,  sometimes  almost  within  reach  of  my 
hand,  continually  uttering  a  short,  clear  "chip"  of  alarm. 

In  a  series  of  specimens  measured,  I  found  quite  an 
appreciable  diflerence  in  size ;  some  adult  birds  were  darker 
than  others. 


CATALOGUE.  45 


34.     SriZELLA    SOCIALIS,   (ll'//s.)  Dp. 
(Chii'1'IN(;  Si'Arkow.) 

One  specimen  taken.  It  may  hav^e  been  a  strap^gler,  but 
I  am  inclined  to  tiiink  that  a  few  pairs  breed  on  the  islands 
every  year. 


35.     ZOXOTRICIIIA    ALD/COUJS,  {Cm.)  lip. 
(White-throated  Sparrow.) 

A  common  summer  visitor.  It  was  abundant  on  Grind- 
stone and  Amherst  Islands. 

Oftentimes,  after  a  long  tramp,  I  have  rested  myself  under 
some  tree,  and  there,  in  the  concealment  of  its  drooping 
branches,  have  listened  with  pleasure  to  two  or  three  of  these 
birds  piping  their  pretty  little  whistles,  one  after  the  other, 
sometimes  each  in  a  different  key.  Whistle  three  notes  of  a 
chord,  beginning  with  the  lowest,  and  repeating  the  last 
three  or  four  times;  some  idea  of  their  notes  m.av  thus  be 
obtained  ;  but  only  those  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  hear- 


46  A    NATURALIST  IN  THE   MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 

ing  tliis  little  chorister  in  its  native  freedom  can  appreciate 
the  sad  and  })laintive  softness  of  its  simple  little  song. 
It  breeds  commonly. 


36.     ZONOTRICHIA    LEUCOPHRVS,  {Forst.)  Sw. 

(WlIITE-CHOWNED    SpARKOW.) 

The    present    species    cannot    be    uncommon   during    its 
migrations  to  and  from   Labrabor. 


Z7.     PASSERELLA    ILIAC  A,  {Mcrrem)  S10. 
(Fox  Sparrow  ) 

A  common  species.  Unfortunately,  I  arrived  too  late  to 
find  it  breeding,  but  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  does  so.  The 
first  specimen  was  taken  July  19,  and  I  killed  ten  within  the 
next  two  weeks.  All  of  them,  with  one  exception,  had  the 
wing -marking  more  or  less  distinct,  but  several  of  them 
varied  perceptibly  in  coloration. 

The  other  specimen,  which  was  taken  August  12,  ap- 
proached very  nearly  the  description  of  the  so-called  Passer- 


C.I  TAr.oGri-:. 


47 


ella  obsatra,  Verrill,  but   1   believe  it  to  be  sinij)ly  a  stage  of 
plumage  of  Passcrclla  iliaca. 
Breeds. 

3S.     SCOLECOPHAGUS  FERRLCIXEUS,  (.'/w.)  S-.j. 

(RrsTV  Gkac  KF.i:  ) 

Abundant.      On    August    is    I   observed    lar^^e    flocks    of 
them,  apparently  preparing  to  leave  for  the  South. 
Breeds. 

39.     COR  res   CORJX,  L. 
(Raven.) 

An  abundant  species.  They  were  shy,  but  hardly  more 
so  than  the  Crow  is  in  Massachusetts.  The  first  specimen 
was  taken  July  27,  and  another  August  3.  Hardly  a  day 
passed  that  I  did  not  see  two  or  three  of  them,  either 
perched  upon  the  cliffs  or  flying  high  uj)  in  the  air,  utter- 
ing their  dismal  croaks. 

A  pair  bred  this  spri ig  in  an  almost  inaccessible  spot,  high 
upon  the  cliffs  of  Cap  au  Meule,  and  another  near  Hospital 
Island. 


48  -•/    i\'A  lURAl.lST  IN   THE   MAC  DA  l.EiV  ISLANDS. 


40.     CORVUS  AM  ERIC  ANUS,  And. 
(Common  Crow.) 

W'l'y  abundant,  and  quite  tame  in  comparison  with  their 
usual  slivness.  One  afternoon,  while  making*  mv  way  throucrh 
some  thick  brush,  I  heard  a  number  of  them  within  a  short 
distance.  Concealing  myself  under  a  treC;  I  commenced  to 
call,  and  in  a  few  minutes  several  came  within  shot,  and 
circled  above  me  until    I   had  killed  four. 

The  hatred  of  a  Crow  for  all  species  of  Owls  is  a  well- 
known  fact,  and  is  sometimes  taken  advantage  of  to  entrap 
them.  Mr.  Perham  related  to  mc  a  curious  manner  of  wa- 
ging war  on  the  "  black  robbers  "  which  I  have  never  seen 
attempted  anywhere  else.  He  places  a  live  Owl  in  some 
isolated  tree  near  where  the  Crows  feed,  and  concealing  him- 
self within  easy  shot,  imitates  the  hoarse  cry  of  a  Crow, 
upon  the  discovery  of  his  enemy,  to  perfection.  Generally, 
the  cry  is  taken  up  and  the  Crows  come  from  all  directions. 
"  The  more  you  kill  the  madder  they  get,"  said  he,  "  but  it  is 
necessary  to  keep  concealed."  From  forty  to  fifty  Crows 
have  been  taken  in  this  manner  in  one  afternoon. 

Breeds  commonly. 


CATAIOGUE.  49 


41.     EMPIDOMAX    TRAILLIl,{Aiul)  Bd. 

(Tk.MI.L'S    FLVCATCIIKIt.) 

On  August  15,  while  walking  along  the  edge  of  a  small 
swanip,  a  bird  suddenly  liew  past  me  and  lit  on  a  branch  a 
few  yards  away.  So  eager  was  I  to  obtain  it,  as  I  had  recog- 
nized it  to  be  a  Flycatcher,  that  I  fired  instantly,  and  blew 
the  poor  little  fellow  almost  to  pieces.  Upon  examination, 
I  decided  it  to  be  the  present  species ;  still,  Empidouax  ti^ail- 
Hi  and  Enipidonax  ininiDius  so  much  resemble  each  other 
that  a  badly  mangled  specimen  of  either  is  difficult  to 
identify. 

42.     EMPiDONAX  MINIMUS,  Bd, 
(Least  Flycatciimr.) 

A  common  species,  and  not  at  all  shy.  While  at  House 
Harbor  a  ^\x\  brouo^ht  me  one  which  she  had  caught  alive 
in  the  barn.  It  did  not  appear  to  be  at  all  hurt,  so  after 
examining  it  I  opened  my  hand  and  gave  it  freedom.  I 
was  leaning  against  a  fence  at  the  time,  and  upon  being  re- 
leased it  simply  hopped  from  my  hand  to  the  top  rail  of  the 
7 


50  A   XATURAIJST  fX    THE   MAG D ALEX  ISLAXDS. 


fence  and  sat  there  quietly,  allowing  me  to  stroke  it  gently 
with  my  finger,  all  the  while  looking  at  me  knowingly.      Per- 
haps some  movement  on  my  part  startled  xt,  for  it  suddenly 
flew  away  and  disappeared  in  the  brush. 
Breeds. 


43.     EMPIDOXAX  FLAVIVICXTRIS,  Bd. 
(Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher  ) 

Procured  two  specimens,  but  it  does  not  appear  to  be  at 
all  common. 

Probably  breeds. 

44.     CERVLE  ALCYOX,  {L.)  Boic. 
(Belted  Klvgitshek.) 

The  Belted  Kingfisher  appears  to  be  as  abundant  on  the 
islands  as  it  is  almost  everywhere  else.  Hardly  a  pool  of 
fresh  water  was  seen  that  did  not  have  one  or  more  of  this 
species  either  hovering  above  it  or  perched  uuon  some  pro- 
jecting branch  that  commanded  a  view  of  its  surface. 

Breeds. 


CA  TALOGUE. 


51 


45.     COCCYZUS  ERYTIIROPHTIlALMi'S,  {ir//s.)  Ba\ 

(Black-rilled  Cuckoo.) 

A  single  specimen  taken  at  House  Harbor,  July  19,  which 
proved  to  be  an  adult  male.  I  saw  no  other  while  on  the 
islands. 

Probably  breeds. 


46.     Piers    VILLOSUS,   L. 
(Hairy  Woodpecker.) 

The  first  specimen  was  taken  August  5.     I  only  observed 
it  on  four  occasions ;  obtained  one  bird  of  the  year. 
Breeds. 

47.     PICCS  PUB  ESC  ENS,   E 
(Downy  Woodpecker.) 

Not  at  all  common.     I  observed  one  specimen  August  3, 
and  shot  another  August  20,  at  House  Harbor. 
Breeds. 


52  A   NATURALIST  IX    I  HE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


48.     COLAPTIIS  AC  JUT  US,  {L.)  S^u. 
(Goldi:n-\vingi:j>  Wuodi'KCKer.) 

Abundant  all  over  the  islands.     It  is  called  "  Pivcrt "  by 
the  islanders. 
Breeds. 

49.     OTUS    VULGARIS  I'ar.    IVI LSOXI ANUS,  {Less)  All. 

(LONG-EAUKD    OWL.) 

A  specimen  of  this  bird  was  killed  at  House  Harbor 
July  20,  and  another  July  27.  I  observed  it  occasionally 
afterwards. 

Breeds. 

50.     BRACIIYOTUS  PALUSTRIS,  Aitct. 
(Short- FARED  Owl.) 

Upon  two  occasions  I  saw  what  I  believed  to  be  this  bird 
on  Hospital  Island,  and  Mr.  Perham  showed  me  a  specimen 
which  he  had  killed  at  House  Harbor.  He  had  also  ob- 
served others. 

Breeds. 


CATALOGUE.  53 


51.     SYKM'IM  iMlBLLOSLM,  {ForsL)  dr. 
(IJakkki)  0\\  r.  ) 

Either  this  species  or  Syrnium  lapponicum  var.  ciiicrcum 
is  common  late  in  the  fall,  perhaps  both.  The  inhabitants 
state  that  immense  grayish-looking  Owls  were  abundant  at 
times.     I  w^as  unable  to  find  either  species. 

52.     NVCTEA    \I17C.I,  {J)aud)  Gr. 
(Snowv  Owi,.) 

A  very  common  spring  and  autumn  visittn*.  I  saw  one 
on  Byron  Island,  August  i,  and  two  or  three  afterwards. 
The  inhabitants  state  that  they  are  found  on  the  beaches  in 
laro^c  numbers  late  in  the  fall. 

o 

53.     SLRXIA    ULULA  var.  HUDSONICA,  (6w.)  AVV^y'. 

(Hawk  Owl.) 

A  common  species.  One  specimen  observed  July  28, 
another  taken  August  5,  and  a  fine  adult  male  August  23. 
All  were  taken  durin'j^  the  daytime. 

Breeds. 


54  A   NATURALIST  TV   THE  MAG D ALEX  ISLANDS. 

54.     XYCTALE    TENGMALMI  7'a>:  RICHARDS JXII,  {Bp  )  Rid^e. 

(RicHAunsoN's  Owl.) 

Mr.  Whalcn  showed  me  a  specimen  which  he  liad  killed 
in  June,  and  stated  that  he  had  seen  three  more  this  year. 
I  found  it  quite  common  at  House  Harbor,  where  I  shot  one 
specimen  and  heard  several  others. 

Mr.  William  Pcrham  showed  me  an  egg  of  this  species 
which  he  had  taken  on  June  14  at  House  Harbor.  The  nest 
was  a  hole  in  a  dead  birch,  and  contained  an  addled  e^s:,  and 
four  young  birds  nearly  able  to  fly.  The  young  were  much 
darker  than  the  old  birds,  both  of  which  were  procured. 
The  egg,  which  is  now  in  my  collection,  measures  1.6  inches 
in  length  by  1.25  in  breadth.     It  is  of  a  creamy  white  color. 


55.     NYCTALE  AC  A  Die  A,  (6";//.)  Bp. 
(Arcadian  Owl.) 

On  July  30  I  shot  a  single  specimen  of  this  little  Owl  on 
Bird  Rock.  It  was  a  voun'>'  bird,  and  had  the  brown  mark- 
ings  and  white  fcice  which  once  was  supposed  to  represent 


CATAI.OCUi:. 


55 


Nyctale  albifrons.  The  taking"  of  this  youni;'  bird  renders  it 
probable  that  Nyctale  acadica  breeds  on  tlie  islands ;  but  it  is 
not  abundant,  as  no  others  were  taken. 

A  few  days  later,  on  Byron  Island,  while  taking  an  even- 
ing stroll,  a  small  Owl  circled  silently  around  me  for  several 
minutes,  which,  from  the  momentary  glimpses  obtained  of  it 
in  the  uncertain  light,  I  believed  to  be  the  present  species. 


56.     CIRCi'S   CYAXEUS  var.  IICDSONKUS,  (L.)  Cs. 

(Maksh  Hawk.) 

A  rather  common  species.  I  saw  it  several  times  at 
House  Harbor,  and  once  on  Byron  Island.  Mr.  Perham 
killed  a  specimen  on   Bird  Rock. 

Probably  breeds. 


57.     ACCI PITER  FUSCUS,  {Gm.^  />'/. 

(SHAUr-SHINNED    HaWK.) 

Observed  what   I   believed   to  be  this  Hawk  at  Hospital 
Island,  but  was  unable  to  approach  within  shot  of  it. 


56  A   NATUKALIST  IN  THE    MAGDALEX  ISLAXDS. 


Oiis.     FALCO    COM  MUX  IS.    I'd  riant  m. 
(Perkgrixe  Falcon.) 

A  fisherman  told  mc  tliat  last  year  he  shot  a  Mawk  which 
had  "killed  a  small  Duck,"  and  which  "had  a  black  back 
and  spotted  breast."  It  was  probably  the  present  species,  and 
there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  visit  here.  1  have  taken 
it  on  Prince  Edward  s  Island. 


58.     FALCO  COLUMBARIUS,  L. 
(Pigeon  Hawk.) 

One  was  seen  at  House  Harbor  and  another  at  Amherst. 

On  July  10  Mr.  Perham  found  a  nest  of  this  species  on 
Byron  Island.  It  was  built  in  a  fir-tree,  and  contained  two 
fresh  eggs.  He  did  not  take  the  bird.  The  inhabitants 
stated  that  it  breeds  here  every  year,  and  that  they  some- 
times found  nests  containing  eight  or  nine  eggs.  The  lat- 
ter statement  I  do  not  think  correct,  as  the  number  rarely 
exceeds  five,  accordins^  to  all  accounts. 


CATALOGUE.  57 


59.     A  (JUL A    CHRVSAETUS,   L. 
(GoLDKN  Eagle.) 

On  Auo-ust  16  some  fishermen  killed  a  larfjc  Eairle  at 
Amherst.  From  the  description  of  the  bird,  I  believe  it  to 
have  been  Aqiiila  chrysactiis,  although  it  might  have  been 
a  young  Ilcliactiis  Iciicoccphahis. 

m 

60.     LA  GOP  US  A  LB  US,  {Gm.)  Ami 
(Willow  Ptarmigan.) 

In  1876  a  single  specimen  was  taken  at  Amherst.  The 
skin  was  preserved.  It  is,  I  believe,  the  only  example  of  this 
species  ever  taken  on  the  islands,  and  was  probably  a  strag- 
Her  from  Newfoundland.  I  was  unable  to  obtain  the  exact 
date  of  its  capture. 

61.     S(2UATAR0LA   HELVETICA,  (Z.)  Cur. 
(Black-bellif.d  Plover.) 

The  first  specimens  were  seen  August   lo,  but  were  very 
shy.     I  procured  two  on  August  1 1,  and  after  that  date  they 
were  very  common  and  quite  tame. 
8 


58  ^1     xXATUKALJST  IN  T/JE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 

62.     CHARADRIi'S  FULVUS  var.    VIRGLXICUS,    Borck. 

(r,oLni:.\  Plovkr  ) 

Arrives  about  August  11,  and  is  abundant  after  August  15. 
Tlie  inhabitants  state  that  it  is  common  here  until  October. 

The  American  Golden  Plover  is  known  to  be  very  closely 
allied  to  Charadrius  fiihits,  of  Asia,  so  closely  in  fact  that 
in  some  cases  it  is  almost  impossible  to  distinguish  them. 
As  regards  Virginiciis,  it  has  the  gray  axillaries,  under 
wing  coverts,  and  slightly  feathered  tibia,  of  Charadrius  fitl- 
VHS,  and  the  only  difference  that  is  perceptible  is  a  slight 
variation  in  size.  If  this  difference  in  size  should  be  con- 
stant, then  Charadrius  virginicus  would  constitute  a  good 
variety  if  not  a  species. 

In  a  large  series  of  Golden  Plovers  from  Asia  and  Amer- 
ica, as  well  as  from  other  parts  of  the  world,  which  it  has 
been  my  good  fortune  to  examine,  I  do  not  find  any  greater 
difference  in  size  than  often  exists  in  individuals  of  the  same 
species  of  some  of  our  common  Sandpipers,  which  no  one 
for  a  moment  would  think  of  separating  as  varieties  or 
species  on  that  account. 


CATAI.QCUE.  :^9 


Mr.  Dresser  states  ('iJirds  of  luirope/'  Part  IX)  that  he  has 
a  specimen  of  Charadyius  fitlvus  in  his  collection  "which 
was  taken  at  sea  in  hit.  69^'  30',  N.  long.  173*^  20'  li.,  many 
miles  northwest  of  Point  Harrow,"  and  "  much  nearer  to  the 
American  than  to  the  Asiatic  coast."  He  also  states  that 
"Mr.  Pickering,  when  at  sea  on  the  I3ih  of  November,  be- 
tween the  Sandwich  Islands  and  California,  procured  speci- 
mens which  were  evidently  migrating." 

The  following  list  gives  the  comparative  measurements  of 
Golden  Plovers  taken  in  different  parts  of  tiie  world.  Those 
which  are  not  my  own  are  taken  from  Mr.  H.  E.  Dresser's 
"Birds  of  Europe":  — 

CIIARADRIUS    FULVUS. 

LENGTH.  WING.  TAIL.  TARSUS.      MID.  TOE 


N.  E.  Africa  : 

I  )ie(lda, 

8.3 

6.2 

2.4 

1.6 

1.05 

Alexandria, 

8.5 

6.25 

2.25 

1-55 

I.O 

Sn^KRiA  : 

Lake  Baikal, 

8.3 

6.25 

2-5 

1-55 

•95 

India: 

Indian  Peninsula, 

8.5 

6.25 

2.25 

I  55 

1.0 

Cevlox  : 

Oripo, 

9.0 

6.T 

2.4 

1-55 

'•5 

6o  '-1   NATURALIST  IN   THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


i.KN(;iii. 

W  INC.. 

TAIL. 

TARSrS. 

MID.    lOK. 

Malacca, 

9.0 

6.25 

'^•Ol 

1-55 

I.O 

Java, 

9.0 

6.4 

2.4 

1-55 

I.O 

liANKA, 

8.0 

6.1 

2.3 

1-5 

1.0 

])()RNK(), 

8.9 

6.05 

2.4 

1.6 

1.05 

IjALCIUAX, 

9-5 

6.2 

2.5 

1.6 

•95 

ArSTRALIA 

(juecn: 

>lancl. 

9.0 

.      6.55 

2.5 

1.6 

I.O 

China  : 

Foochow, 

9.0 

6.4 

2.4 

1.6 

I.O 

it. 

8.5 

6.25 

2.25 

1-55 

I.O 

(4 

7.5 

5-9 

1.9 

1-5 

0.9 

CHARADRIUS    VIRGINICUS. 


HuDSOx's  Bay: 

Moose  Factory, 

8.8 

6.6 

2.5 

1-7 

0.9 

Texas, 

9.0 

6.6 

2.7 

1-7 

I.O 

Guatemala, 

9.0 

7.0 

2.9 

^•7 

0.9 

Peru  : 

Vambo  \'alley, 

9.0 

6.7 

2.6 

1.6 

0.9 

I'lorida: 

rilot  Town, 

9.0 

6.8 

2.6 

1.7 

0.9 

Massachusetts  : 

Chatham 

9.1 

6.8 

2.8 

1-7 

•95 

t( 

8.9 

6.6 

2.6 

1.65 

•9 

Prince  Edward's  Island: 

Malpeque, 

8.9 

6.7 

2-7 

1-7 

•9 

M A( ; DALEN  Islands, 

9.0 

6.7 

2.8 

1.7 

•9 

CATALOGCE.  6 1 


Although  there  appcirs  to  be  a  constant  clItTercncc  in 
size,*  yet  it  will  be  seen  by  the  preceding  list  that  specimens 
of  the  same  species  differ  as  much  in  size  as  the  so-called 
var.  Virginiciis  differs  from  Charadrius  fitlvus. 


63.     ^EG I  A  LITIS  SEMIPALMATL'S,  {Bp.)  Cab. 

(RiNGNECK.) 

An  abundant  species  during  the  migrations.     Some  prob- 
ably  breed,  as  I  found  it  common  in  July. 


64.     yEGIALITIS  MELODUS  var.  CIRCUMCIXTA,  Rhig. 

(Piping  Plovfr.) 

An  abundant  species.  I  procured  immature  birds  in  July, 
and  Mr.  Perham  found  it  breeding  in  June.  This,  I  believe, 
is  the  most  northern  record  of  its  capture,  but  future 
research,  I  think,  will  reveal  that  it  has  a  much  more 
northern    range    than    naturalists   generally  suppose.      Dur- 

*  Not  greater  than  would  be  caused  by  climatic  influences  and  geographical  dis- 
tribution. 


62  A   AATUKALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


ing  the  month  of  August  I  procured  specimens  wliich  I 
think  may  have  been  miiiratin<T[.  If  this  should  i^rove 
true,  it  is  possible  that  its  range  may  extend  to  Antkosti, 
or  even  to  Labrador. 


65.     STREPSILAS  IXTKRPRKS,  (Z.)  ///. 

(Turnstone.) 

Very   abundant    after  July   30.      Procured   one  specimen 
July  26. 

66.     G  ALU X AGO    WILSON  I,  {Temm)  Bp. 
(Wilson's  Snipe.) 

Abundant;   especially  so  on  Red  Cape  Marshes. 
Breeds. 


67.     MACRORHAMPIirs  GRLSEVS,  (Gm)  Leach. 

(RED-r.REASTED    SnII'E.) 

Common  during  the  migrations.     Procured  the  first  speci- 
men August  II. 


CATALOGUE. 


68.     ERFMXETES  PUSn,LUS,  {L.)  Cass. 
(SEMirALMATnn  Sandpiper. ) 

Abundant  during  the  migrations.     First  taken  July  21 


69.     TRIXGA   MIXUTILLA,  K 
(Least  Sandpiper.) 

Abundant  after  July  21.  I  saw  some  flocks  that  must 
have  contained  several  hundred  individuals. 

It  is  pleasant  to  note  the  utter  fearlessness  of  this  graceful 
little  species,  when  unacquainted  with  their  greatest  enemy, 
man.  Oftentimes  while  reclining  upon  the  beach  I  have 
watched  these  little  creatures  running  from  side  to  side, 
searching  diligently  for  their  food,  at  times  approaching 
within  a  few  feet  of  me.  Upon  my  making  a  movement, 
they  showed  no  signs  of  fear  otherwise  than  by  taking  two 
or  three  little  running  side  steps  to  slightly  increase  the  dis- 
tance between  us,  and  then  continued  their  earnest  search, 
peeping  softly  to  themselves,  happy  in  the  present,  seemingly 
without  a  presentiment  of  the  dangers  of  their  coming  jour- 
ney south. 


64  ^   NATURALIST  IN  HIE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


70.     TRINGA   MACULA  TA,   V. 
(Pectoral  Sandpiper.) 

I  shot  a  single  specimen  August  20,  and  another  on  the 
2ist;  but  it  is  probably  common  during  the  migrations. 


71.     TRIXGA    nOXAPARTEI,  ScliL 
(White-rumpled  Sandpiper.) 

Abundant  everywhere.     At  times  I  have  seen  the  beaches 
covered  with  them.     They  arrive  about  .Vugust  10. 

72.     TRIXGA    A  LP  IX A  van  AMERICANA,  Cass. 
(American  Dunlin.) 

Common  during  the  migrations.     Arrives  about  the  mid- 
dle of  August. 

7Z-     TRIXGA    CAXUTUS,   L. 
(Red-rreasted  Sandpiper.) 

Arrives  about  August   10.      Procured  only  two,  but  it  is 
probably  common  during  the  migrations. 


CATALOGUE.  6^ 


74.     CALIDRfS  ARllXARLl,  (L.)  III. 

(SAXI)i:RLlN(i.) 

First  taken  August  ii,  afterwards  became  rather  common. 

75.     LIMOSA    HUDSOXICA,  {Lalh.)  Sw. 
(Hui)SONiAx  God  WIT.) 

First  obtained  August  8.  An  abundant  species  during 
the  migrations,  and  exceedingly  taine.  Upon  several  occa- 
sions  I  have  "  walked  them  up "  and  shot  them. 

Audubon  states  that  he  was  informed  that  Limosa  hudsoni' 
ca  was  to  be  found  breeding  in  the  Magdalen  Islands,  and 
that  his  friend  Thomas  McCulloch  confirmed  that  statement, 
and  also  informed  him  tliat  these  birds  breed  at  times  on 
Prince  Edward's  Island.  At  the  present  time  none  remain 
to  breed  so  far  south. 


76.     TOTANUS  MELANOLEUCUS,  Cm. 
(Greater  Tell-tale.) 

Arrives    about    July    15,    and    afterwards    becomes   very 
abundant. 


66  -/    NATURALIST  IN   THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


77.     TOrAXrs  FLAM  PES,  Gm. 
(Yellow-shaxks.) 

Very    common    during    the    migrations.      Arrives    about 
July   16,  and  becomes  abundant  about  July  26. 


78.      TRLXG0LDL:S  macula RLUS,  (Z.)  Or. 

(Si'otti;d  S.wni'iPF.R.) 

Common  during  the  summer  months.     It  was  quite  tame. 
Mr.  Perham  found  it  breeding  on   Byron   Island. 
Breeds. 

79.     XUMEXLUS  L.ONGLROSTRIS,   IVih. 
(Long-billed  Curlew.) 

On  Auoust  12  I  observed  two  birds  which  I  believed  to 
be  of  this  species. 

One  day  I  showed  a  specimen  of  the  Hudsonian  Curlew 
to  an  old  seal  hunter  and  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  killed 
any  larger.  He  answered  that  he  had  occasionally  killed 
them  larger,   "  avcc  Ic  bcc  bcaitcoup  plus  bngiic!'' 


CATALOCrE.  67 


So.     Xl'MEXirs  JlinsOXICUS,  Lath. 
(IIl'dsoxian  Curlew.) 

Abundant  durinfr  the  micirations.  The  first  arrive  about 
July  24,  and  soon  after  become  very  numerous.  The  fields 
along  the  road  to  Hospital  Island  are  filled  with  berries, 
and  is  a  great  resort  for  them.  I  have  started  as  many  as 
eleven  ilocks  in  one  afternoon,  some  of  them  numbering 
hundreds  of  birds. 

81.     NCMEXICS  nOREALlS,  {Forst.)  Lath. 
(Esquimaux  Curlew.) 

Observed  a  pair  of  these  birds  feeding  in  a  field,  but  was 
unable  to  obtain  a  shot.  I  pointed  them  out  to  a  fisherman, 
who  seemed  to  recognize  them,  and  stated  that  they  were 
rare  visitors.  Although  no  others  w^ere  seen,  I  believe  that 
they  regularly  visit  the  islands  during  the  migrations,  and 
are  abundant  in  September.  We  found  them  common  near 
Malpeque,  P.  E.  I.,  in   1875. 

82.     ARDKA    LIE  ROD  LIS,   A. 
(Great  Blue  Heron.) 

A  common   summer  visitor.     Hreeds. 


68  A  NATURALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 

83.     BOTAURUS  MINOR,  Gm. 
(Bittern.) 

Abundant.  While  Snipe  shooting  near  Red  Cape,  I  have 
seen  as  many  as  six  of  them  in  one  afternoon.  One  can 
hardly  realize  the  strength  which  lies  in  the  slender  neck 
of  an  old  Bittern.  The  long,  sharp  beak,  almost  as  keen 
as  a  knife,  is  capable  of  inflicting  a  severe  and  painful 
wound,  as  I  know  to  my  cost,  having  once  incautiously 
allowed  a  w^ounded  bird  to  strike  my  hand. 

I  was  told  a  little  incident  which  may  illustrate  the  deadly 
use  this  weapon  of  defence  is  sometimes  put  to.  One  after- 
noon a  gentleman  saw  a  Hawk  dart  suddenly  down  into  a 
marsh  near  his  house.  Seizing  his  gun,  he  ran  towards  the 
spot  in  hopes  of  obtaining  a  shot.  He  continued  on  until 
he  suddenly  came  upon  the  dead  bodies  of  the  Haw^k 
and  an  old  Bittern.  The  beak  of  the  latter  was  driven 
quite  through  the  body  of  the  Hawk,  whose  talons  had 
crushed  out  its  life,  but  not  before  it  had  been  able  to 
avenge  itself. 

Breeds. 


CATALOGUE.  69 


84.     BRANTA    BERXICLA,   L. 
(Brant  Goosk  ) 


Abundant  in  the  fall  and  spring  during  the  migrations. 


85.     BRAXT    CANADllXSIS,   L. 
(Canada  Goose.) 

The  first  was  seen  August  22.  They  are  very  abundant 
in  the  spring  and  fall,  when  the  inhabitants,  who  do  not 
deien  to  shoot  smaller  birds,  load  their  muskets  with  buck- 
shot  and  repair  to  the  ponds,  where  they  kill  great  numbers 
of  them.  I  was  told  that  twenty  years  ago  they  bred  abun- 
dantly at  East  Point,  but  of  late  years  none  have  been  ob- 
served. 

86.     ANAS  OBSCURA,   Gm. 
(Dusky  Duck.) 

Common  all  over  the  islands  wherever  fresh-water  ponds 
are  to  be  found. 
Breeds. 


70 


A   NATURAL/ST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


87.     QUER(2UEDULA    CAROIJXEXSIS,   Cm. 
(Greex-wingkd  Tkal  ) 

Very  abundant.  While  shooting  over  the  Three  Pond 
Marshes  I  witnessed  the  curious  actions  of  a  wounded  bird 
of  this  species,  called  "  towering,"  by  sportsmen,  I  believe. 

While  passing  through  a  small  bit  of  marsh  bordering  one 
of  the  ponds,  a  pair  of  Teal  started  up  in  front  of  me.  The 
first  dropped  dead,  and  the  other,  upon  receiving  the  con- 
tents of  the  second  barrel,  rose  straight  up  into  the  air, 
higher  and  higher,  turning  round  and  round  like  a  top, 
the  wings  keeping  up  a  spasmodic  kind  of  motion,  until  at 
an  immense  height  it  suddenly  ceased  all  movement,  and 
turning  over  and  over  in  its  descent,  struck  the  water  a  dead 
weight,  and  when  I  reached  the  spot  was  stone  dead. 

Possibly  breeds. 

88.     QUERQUEDULA    DJSCORS,  (Z.)  Stcph. 
(Blue-wingkd  Teal.) 

Common,  but  not  so  plentiful  as  the  last  species. 
Breeds. 


CATALOGCE. 


89.     FCLEGULA    AfAAWLA,  (L.)  S/f/>/i. 
(Grkatkr  Blackhkad.) 

On  July  24  I  killed  a  fine  specimen,  an  adult  male.  He 
was  accompanied  by  another,  possibly  a  female,  which  I  also 
brought  down,  but  which  was  only  wounded  and  escaped. 

90.    HERALD  A    GLACIALIS,  (Z.)  Leach, 
(Long-tailed  Duck  ) 

Procured  a  single  specimen  August  14.  Very  abundant 
durincf  the  migrations. 

o  o 

91.     HISTRIOXICUS   T0R(2UATUS,  (/..)  Bp. 
(Harlequin  Duck.) 

I  was  told  by  an  old  gunner  that  a  Duck  answering  the 
description  of  Ilistrionicics  torqiiatiis  was  occasionally  killed 
here  late  in  the  fall. 


92.     SOMATERLl    MOLLISSLMA,  (Z.)  Leach. 

(Eider  Duck.) 

A  skin  was  shown  me  at  Bird  Rock.     Abundant  durimx 
the  migrations. 


72  //    jXATURAUST  in   TIfE  ArACDALF.N  ISl.AA/DS. 


93.     MIlRGL'S  SERRATOR,   L. 
(Ui:i)-r.Ki:ASTEn  Mkkgansek.) 

A  rather  common  summer  resident.  While  walkinjx  alonof 
the  shore  of  a  small  inlet  we  suddenly  came  upon  a  female 
with  a  brood  of  young  birds.  Upon  perceiving  us  she 
seemed  greatly  troubled,  and  swam  away,  closely  followed  by 
her  offspring,  with  the  exception  of  one  weakly  little  fellow 
which  was  apparently  unable  to  keep  up.  Observing  this, 
the  old  bird  swam  back  and  seemed  to  give  some  directions 
to  the  little  one,  for  he  scrambled  upon  her  back  and  nestled 
snugly  down  behind  her  neck.  As  soon  as  he  had  fairly 
settled  himself  comfortably,  r.way  she  went,  this  time  closely 
followed  by  her  brood.  We  watched  her  until  she  disap- 
peared around  a  point,  unharmed,  and  bearing  the  little  one 
still  upon  her  back,  to  a  place  of  safety. 

Breeds. 

94.     SULA   BASSANA,   L. 
(Gannet.) 

Thousands  of  these  birds  breed  upon  Bird  Rock  each 
year.     They  are  in  such  numbers  that  oftentimes  it  gives  the 


CATALOGUE.  73 


rock  tlie  appearance  of  being  covered  with  snow.  While  on 
Bird  Rock  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them  diving  at  a 
school  of  fish.  It  appealed  to  me  as  if  some  one  was  pour- 
ing beans  from  a  pail,  so  tliickly  did  they  dive.  Thousands 
of  them  seemed  to  go  down  in  one  continuous  stream. 
Each  bird  must  consume  a  w^onderful  amount  of  fish  in  a 
year.  I  have  taken  as  many  as  six  small  mackerel  out  of 
the  stomach  of  one  Gannet.  While  flying,  they  sometimes 
emit  a  cry  resembling  a  harsh  laugh. 


95.     GRACULUS  CARIh\  {L.)  Gray. 
(Common  Cormorant.) 

Common,  and  is  said  to  breed  on  some  of  the  islands. 


96.     LARUS  ^^ARIXUS,   L. 
(Great  Black-backed  Gull.) 

First  observed  July  21,  and  became  common  in  August, 
collecting  together  in  large  flocks. 
10 


74  ^   NATURALIST  IN   THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


97.     LARL'S  ARuEXTATCS,  Bniiui. 
(Herring  Gill.) 

A  fine  specimen  was  taken  July  27.  Later,  it  became 
common,  but  was  not  as  abundant  as  the  last  species.  Both 
this  species  and  Larus  inarimis  are  eaten  by  the  inhabitants 
and  are  considered  a  great  delicacy.  In  fact,  a  young  bird 
made  into  a  stew  is  really  quite  a  palatable  dish,  as  I  can 
testify  by  experience. 


98.     LARUS   TRIDACTYLUS,   L. 
(KiTxnvAKE  Gull.) 

One  of  the  five  species  found  breeding  upon  Bird  Rock. 
The  eggs  are  generally  very  difficult  to  procure,  as  they  are 
usually  deposited  upon  almost  inaccessible  ledges.  They 
rear  their  young  oftentimes  side  by  side  with  the  Gannets, 
Auks,  and  Guillemots,  apparently  living  as  amicably  as 
possible. 


CATALOGUE.  75 


99.     LARUS  PHfLADELP/ILL  (On/.)  Cones, 
(Boxai'Arte's  Gull.) 

First  observed  August  9,  and  afterwards  became  very 
abundant.  About  August  16  they  began  to  assemble  in 
large   flocks.     This  bird   is  sometimes  eaten  by  the  inhabi- 


ants,  although    the  iiesh  is  exceedingly  fishy. 


100.     STERXA    IIIRLWIK),   L. 
(Common  Tern.) 

A  very  abundant  species  everywhere.  During  my  daily 
excursions  along  the  shore  this  beautiful  little  bird  was 
always  to  be  met  with,  sometimes  sailing  over  me  uttering 
its  harsh  scream  of  anger,  or  again  holding  itself  suspended 
in  the  air,  with  head  bent  down  and  expectant  gaze,  watch- 
ing for  the  reappearance  of  some  small  fish  which  it  had 
caught  sight  of.  This  is  the  only  representative  of  its  family 
that  breeds  on  the  islands,  at  least  the  onlv  one  which  was 
found,  and  was  the  only  species  taken  during  July  and  August. 

Breeds  abundantly  on  some  of  the  islands. 


76  A   NATURALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


10 1.     STERNA   MACROURA,  Naum. 
(Arctic  Tern.) 

I  did  not  observe  this  Tern.  Audubon  states,  however, 
that  when  he  visited  the  Magdalen  Islands  in  June,  1833, 
''some  dozens  of  Arctic  Terns  were  plunging  into  the  waters, 
capturing  a  tiny  fish  or  shrimp  at  every  dash.'* 

Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  writes  me  that  he  found  Sterna  ma- 
croiira  on  the  islands,  but  it  was  not  as  numerous  as  the 
last  species. 

102.     PROCELLARIA    PELAGIC  A,   L. 
(Stormy  Petrel.) 

Common,  a  short  distance  out  at  sea.  On  August  21,  just 
after  a  heavy  storm,  I  killed  a  fine  specimen  from  the  beach 
at  House  Harbor. 


103.     OCEANITES   OCEANICA,  (KuhL)  Cones. 
(Wilson's  Petrel.) 

Observed  what  I  believed  to  be  this  species  while  making 
the  passage  to  the  islands. 


CATALOGUE.  "JJ 


104.     COLYMDUS   TORQUATUS,  Bnam, 
(Great  Northern  Diver.) 

Is  rather  common.     On  August  2  I  saw  a  number  of  them 
near  Wolf  Island,  and  killed  two ;  both  were  immature  birds. 
Breeds. 

105.     UTAMAXIA    TORDA,  {L.)  Leach. 
(Razor-billed  Auk) 

Breeds  in  great  numbers  on  Bird  Rock,  and  is  not  uncom- 
mon on  Byron  Island.  The  very  young  birds  are  covered 
with  a  blackish  down,  having  a  white  belly. 


106.     FRATERCULA    ARCTIC  A,  (L.)  Steph. 
(Common  Pufein.) 

Breeds  abundantly  on  Bird  Rock  and  Byron  Island.  One 
morning  I  counted  fifty-four  of  them  sitting  in  a  line  on 
one  of  the  ledges.  They  are  quite  tame,  and  I  have  often 
approached  within  a  few  feet  of  them  before  they  offered 
to  flv. 


78  A  NATURALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 

107.     MERGULUS  ALLE,  (Z.)  VicilL 
(Sea  Dove.) 

Mr.  Whalen  showed  me  a  specimen  which  he  killed  on 
Bird  Rock.  He  stated  that  they  were  occasionally  seen  in 
winter. 

108.     UR/A    GRVLLE,  (L.)  Bniuji. 
(Black  Guillemot.) 

A  very  abundant  species.  I  arrived  too  late  to  find  its 
eggs,  but  it  breeds  commonly  at  Wolf  Island  and  Cap  au 
Meule.  A  few  breed  on  Byron  Island,  but  none  have  been 
found  on  Bird  Rock. 


109.    LOJ/r/A    TRO/LE,  (Z.)  Bra;u/^. 
(Common  Guillemot) 

Very  abundant  on  Bird  R.ock.  Some  few  were  found  on 
Byron  Island,  but  I  did  not  observe  any  on  the  other  islands. 
The  youns:  have  their  unoer  parts  covered  w^ith  a  blackish 
down,  mixed  with  silver  gray ;   the  under  parts  are  white. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


A  NUMBER  of  species  which  we  did  not  procure  undoubtedly  visit 
the  islands.  A  naturalist  visiting  them  during  the  months  of  May 
and  June  would  reap  a  rich  harvest,  and  many  interesting  facts 
might  be  learned  regarding  the  breeding  of  some  of  our  rarer 
species. 

I  include  below  a  few  which  certainly  would  be  found  at  some 
seasons  of  the  year.  Most  of  them  are  included  from  descriptions 
given  me  by  the  islanders. 

1.  PLECTROPHAXES  NIVALIS. 

2.  A  SPUR  ATRICAPILLUS,  {IV ih)  Pp. 

3.  SPEC  A  NO  PUS    IVILSONIP  {Sab)   Cs. 
Procured  a  specimen  at  Malpeque,  P.  E.  I ,  in   1875. 

4-     LOB /PES  IIYPERBOREUS,   {L.)   Cuv. 

5.     I'lIALARurUS  EULIL'ARIUS,  (/. )  Pp. 
11 


82  A  NATURALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 

6.  TRIXGA    MAKITIMA,   Brunnich. 
Taken  on  P.  E.  I.  in  1875. 

7.  BUCEPHALA    CLAA'C'LA,   (A)  Gr. 

8.  BUCEPHALA   ALBEOLA,   (Z.)    Bd. 

9.  SOMATERIA   SPECTABILIS,  (Z.)  Leach. 

An  old  gunner,  who  was  familiar  with  the  Eider  Duck,  stated 
that  he  had  sometimes  killed  them  "  with  a  yellow  bunch  on 
the  bill." 

10.  (ED  EMI  A   AMERICANA,  Sw. 

11.  CEDEMIA   FUSCA,  (Z.)  Sw. 

I  was  told  that  late  in  the  fall  a  large  gray  Duck,  with  partly 
white  wings,  was  common ;    probably  the  female  of  this  species. 


12.  CEDEMIA   PERSPICILLATA,  (Z.)  Flemm 

13.  GRACULUS  DILOPHUS,  {Siv.)  Gray. 

14.  LARUS  GLAUCUS,  Bninn. 

15.  LARUS  EBURNEUS,  Gm. 


■S' 


ArPEiVDix.  83 


The  following  species,  none  of  which  are  included  in  the  Cat- 
alogue, were  taken  at  Malpeque,  P.  E.  I ,  in  1875,  during  the  months 
of  August  and  September.  It  is  possible  that  some  of  them  may 
occasionally  wander  to  the  Magdalen  Islands :  — 

1.  CVAXrRUS   ClUSTATUS. 

2.  PERI  so  RE  us   CAXADEXSIS. 

3.  STEGAXOPUS    ir/LSOX/. 

4.  TRFXGA    MARITIMA, 

5.  ARDEA    VIRESCEXS. 

6.  XYCTIARDEA    GRISEA  var.  NAEVIA, 

7.  PORZAXA   XO  VEBORA  CEXSIS. 

8.  MERGUS  MERGAXSER. 

9.  MERGUS   CUCULLATUS. 
10  STERXA    EORSTERI. 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


A. 

Acadian  Owl, 
Accipitcr  fuscus, 
^ijiothrus  linaria, 
^gialitis  melodus, 
^gialitis  semipalmatiis, 
Ampelis  cedrorum, 
Anas  obscura, 
Anortbura  troglodytes, 
Aquila  cbrysaetus, 
Arctic  Tern, 
Ardea  berodias, 
Astur  atricapillus, 
Auk,  Razor-billed, 


B. 

Bank  Swallow, 
Barred  Owl, 
Bay-winged  Bunting, 
Bittern, 
Black  Brant, 
Black  Duck, 
Black  Guillemot, 
Black-and-wbite  Creeper, 
Black-and-yellow  Warbler, 
Black-bellied  Plover, 
Black-billed  Cuckoo, 


PAGE 


NO. 


54 

55 

55 

SI 

42 

27 

61 

64 

61 

63 

40 

22 

69 

86 

36 

10 

57 

59 

76 

lOI 

67 

82 

81 

2 

n 

105 

40 

21 

53 

51 

43 

30 

68 

83 

69 

84 

69 

86 

7H 

108 

37 

12 

33 

16 

57 

61 

51 

45 

Black-capped  Cliickadee, 
Black-poll  Warbler, 
Blue  Heron, 
Blue- winged  Teal, 
Bonaparte's  Gull, 
Botarus  minor, 
Brant  Goose, 
Branta  bernicia, 
Branta  canadensis, 
Bunting,  Bay-winged, 


C. 

Calidris  arenaria, 

Canada  Goose, 

Carpodacus  purpureus, 

Catbird, 

Cedar  Bird, 

Ceryle  alcyon, 

Cbaradrius  virginicus, 

Chickadee, 

Chipping  Sparrow, 

Chrysomitris  pinus, 

Chat, 

Circus  cvaneus, 

Coccvzus  erythropluhalmus, 

Colymbus  torquatus. 

Common  Cormorant, 


^\c;K 

N(1. 

35 

45 

38 

15 

67 

82 

70 

88 

75 

99 

68 

83 

69 

84 

69 

84 

69 

85 

43 

30 

65 
69 

41 

34 
40 

50 
58 

35 
45 
42 

34 

55 
51 
77 
73 


74 

85 
24 

4 
22 

40 
62 

7 

34 
28 

5 

56 

45 
104 

95 


88 


A     NATURALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


PAGE 


NO. 


Common  Crossbill, 
Common  Crow, 
Common  Guillemot, 
Common  Puffin, 
Common  Tern, 
Cormorant, 
Corvus  americanus, 
Corvus  corax, 
Cotyle  riparia, 
Crossbill,  Common, 
Crossbill,  White-winged, 
Crow, 

Cuckoo,  Black-billed, 
Curlew,  Esquimaux, 
Curlew,  Hudsonian, 
Curlew,  Long-billed, 

D. 

DendroEca  ccstiva, 
Dendroeca  coronata, 
Dendrceca  maculosa, 
Dendroeca  striata, 
Diver,  Great  Northern, 
Double-crested  Cormorant, 
Downy  Woodpecker, 
Dove,  Sea, 
Duck  Hawk, 
Duck,  Black, 
Duck,  Dusky, 
Duck,  Eider, 
Duck,  Harlequin, 
Duck,  Long-tailed, 
I  Uinl'n, 
Dusky  Duck, 


42 

26 

48 

40 

78 

109 

11 

106 

IS 

100 

13 

95 

48 

40 

47 

39 

40 

21 

42 

26 

41 

25 

48 

40 

51 

45 

67 

81 

67 

80 

66 

79 

37 

13 

38 

14 

38 

16 

38 

15 

11 

104 

82 

12 

51 

47 

78 

107 

56 

69 

85 

69 

85 

71 

92 

71 

91 

71 

90 

64 

12 

69 

85 

VM.V. 

Eagle,  Golden,  57 

Eider  Duck,  71 

Empidonax  flaviventris,  50 

Empidonax  minimus,  49 

Empidonax  traillii,  49 

English  Snipe,  62 

Eremophila  alpestris,  2>1 

Ereunetes  pusillus,  63 

Esquimaux  Curlew,  67 


F. 


Falco  communis,  56 

Falco  columbarius,  56 

Falcon,  Peregrine,  56 

Finch,  Purple,  41 

Flycatcher,  Least,  49 

Flycatcher,  Traill's,  49 
Flycatcher,  Yellow-bellied,        50 

Fox  Sparrow,  46 

Fratercula  arctica,  77 

Fulegula  marila,  71 


G. 

Gallinago  Wilsoni,  62 

Gannet,  72 

Glaucus  Gull,  82 

Godwit,  Hudsonian,  65 

Golden  Eagle,  57 

Golden  Plover,  58 

Golden-crowned  Kinglet,  35 


NO. 

59 
92 

43 
42 

41 
66 
1 1 

68 
81 


58 

24 

42 

41 

43 

31 
106 

89 


66 

94 

13 

75 

59 
62 

6 


INDEX. 


89 


Golden-crowned  Thrush, 
Golden-winged  Woodpecker 
Goose,  Bnint, 
Goose,  Canada, 
Goshawk, 
Grackle,  Rusty, 
Graculus  carbo, 
Great  Black-backed  Gull, 
Great  Blue  Heron, 
Great  Northern  Diver, 
Greater  Blackhead, 
Greater  Yellowlegs, 
Green-winged  Teal, 
Grosbeak,  Pine, 
Gull,  Bonaparte's, 
Gull,  Great  Blackback, 
Gull,  Kittiwake, 
Gull,  Glaucus, 
Gull,  Herring, 
Guillemot,  Common, 
Guillemot,  Black, 


H. 

Hairy  Woodpecker, 
Heralda  glacialis. 
Harlequin  Duck, 
Harrier,  Marsh, 
Hawk  Owl, 
Hawk,  Marsh, 
Hawk,  Sharp-shinned, 
Hawk,  Pigeon, 
Hawk,  Duck, 
Hermit  Thrush, 


PAGE 

39 

"    > 

69 
69 
81 
47 
12, 
73 
67 
77 
71 

65 

70 

41 

75 
73 
7\ 
82 

74 
78 
78 


NO. 

7 
48 
84 

85 
I 

38 

95 
96 

82 

104 

89 

76 

87 

^3 

99 
96 

98 
13 

97 
109 
108 


51 

46 

71 

90 

71 

55 

91 

56 

53 
55 

53 

5^' 

55 
56 
56 

17 
58 

33 

2 

Heron,  Great  Blue, 
Herring  Gull, 
Histrionicus  torcjuatus, 
Hudsonian  Curlew, 
Hudsonian  (]odwit, 
Hudsonian  Titmouse, 


Indian  Hen, 
Ivory  Gull, 


Junco  hvemalis, 


K. 

King  Eider, 
Kingfisher,  Belted, 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned, 
Kittiwake  Gull, 
Knot, 


Lagopus  albus, 
Lark,  Shore, 
Larus  argentatus, 
Larus  marinus, 
Larus  Philadelphia, 
Larus  tridactylus, 
Least  Plycatcher, 
Least  Sandpiper, 
Limosa  hudsonica, 


I'AGE 

NO. 

67 

82 

74 

97 

71 

91 

67 

80 

65 

75 

36 

8 

68 
82 


83 
14 


44        Zl 


82 

8 

50 

44 

35 

6 

74 

98 

64 

n 

37 

II 

74 

97 

71 

96 

75 

99 

74 

98 

49 

42 

63 

69 

6s 

75 

12 


90 


A    NATURALIST  IX   T/IK   .^fAGDAIEX  ISIAXDS. 


PACiE 

NO. 

Linnet,  Red-poll, 

42 

27 

Linnet,   Pine, 

42 

28 

Little  Auk, 

78 

107 

Lomvia  troile. 

78 

109 

Lonij-billed  Curlew, 

66 

79 

Long-eared  Owl, 

52 

49 

Long-tailed  Uuck, 

71 

90 

Loon, 

77 

104 

Loxia  curvirostra, 

42 

26 

Loxia  ieucoptcra, 

41 

25 

M. 

Macrorhampluis  griseus. 
Marsh  Hawk, 
Melospiza  palustris, 
Melospiza  nielodia, 
Merganser,  Red-breasted, 
Mergus  serrator, 
Mergulus  alle, 
Mimus  carolinensis, 
Minotilta  varia, 
Murre. 


N. 


62 

67 

55 

56 

43 

31 

44 

32 

72 

93 

72 

93 

78 

107 

34 

4 

Z7 

12 

78 

109 

Nuthatch,  Red-bellied, 

36 

9 

Numenius  borealis, 

67 

Sr 

Numenius  hudsonicus, 

67 

80 

Numenius  longirostris, 

66 

79 

Nyctale  acadica, 

54 

55 

Nyctale  tengmalmi, 

54 

54 

Nyctia  nivea, 

53 

52 

o. 

Oceanites  oceanica, 
CEdemia  americana, 
Quiemia  fusca, 
Olive-backed  Thrush, 
Otus  vulgaris, 
Oven  Bird, 
Owl,  Acadian, 
Owd,  Barred, 
Owl,  Hawk, 
Owl,  Long- eared. 
Owl,  Short-eared, 
Owl,  Richardson's, 
Ow'l,  Snowv, 


P. 

Parus  atricapillus, 
Parus  hudsonicus, 
Passerculus  savanna, 
Passerella  iliaca, 
Pectoral  Sandpiper, 
Peregrine  Palcon, 
Petrel,  Stormy, 
Petrel,  Wilson's, 
Phalarope,  Wilson's, 
Phalarope,  Northern, 
Picus  pubescens, 
Picus  villosus, 
Pigeon  Hawk, 
Pine  Grosbeak, 
Pine  Linnet, 
Pinicola  enucleator, 
Piping  Plover, 


'\C,\i 

NO. 

7Cy 

'03 

82 

10 

82 

II 

34 

3 

S^ 

49 

39 

17 

54 

55 

S3 

5' 

53 

S3 

52 

50 

52 

49 

54 

54 

53 

52 

35 

7 

3^> 

8 

43 

29 

46 

37 

64 

70 

56 

76 

102 

76 

103 

81 

2 

81 

3 

51 

47 

51 

46 

5^-^ 

58 

41 

^3 

42 

28 

41 

^3 

61 

64 

IXDEX. 


91 


PACK 


NO. 


Plover,  Black-bellied, 
Plover,  Golden, 
Plover,  Piping, 
Plover,  Ringneck, 
Pooecetes  gramineus, 
Procellaria  pclagica, 
Ptarmigan,  Willow, 
Puffin, 

Purple  Finch, 
Purple  Sandpiper, 


Ouerquedula  carolinensis, 
Ouerquedula  discors, 


R. 

Raven, 

Razor-billed  Auk, 

Red  Crossbill, 

Red  Phalarope, 

Red-bellied  Nuthatch, 

Red-breasted  Merganser, 

Red-breasted  Sandpiper, 

Red-breasted  Snipe, 

Red-poll  Linnet, 

Redstart, 

Regulus  satrapa, 

Richardson's  Owl, 

Ringneck, 

Robin, 

Rusty  Crackle, 


57 

bi 

58 

62 

61 

64 

61 

63 

43 

30 

76 

102 

57 

60 

11 

106 

41 

24 

81 

5 

10 

87  i 

70 

88 

47 

39 

11 

105 

42 

26 

81 

4 

36 

9 

7^ 

93 

64 

73 

62 

67 

42 

27 

39 

19 

J»3 

6 

54 

54 

61 

64 

^-h 

I 

Al 

3^ 

s. 

Sanderling, 
Sandpiper,  Least, 
Sandpiper,  Pectoral, 
Sandpiper,  Sanderling, 
Saiidi)iper,  Seniipalmated, 
Sandjiipcr,  Spotted, 
Sandpiper,  Red-breasted, 
Sandpiper,  White-rumpled, 
Savanna  Sparrow, 
Saw-whet  Owl, 
Saxicola  ocnanthe, 
Scolecophagus  ferruginous, 
Sea  Dove, 
Seiurus  aurocapillus, 
Seiurus  noveboracensls, 
Sitta  canadensis, 
Semipalmated  Sandpiper, 
Semipalmated  Plover, 
Setophaga  ruticilla. 
Sharp-shinned  Hawk, 
Shore  Lark, 
Short-eared  Owl, 
Snipe,  Wilson's, 
Snipe,  Red-breasted, 
Snowbird, 
Snow  Bunting, 
Snowy  Owl, 
Somateria  molllssima. 
Sparrow,  Chipping, 
Sparrow,  Fox, 
Sparrow,  Savanna, 
Sparrow,  Song. 
Sparrow.  Swamj), 
Sparrow,  While-crowned, 


p\r.B 


NO. 


65 

74 

63 

69 

64 

70 

65 

74 

63 

68 

66 

73 

64 

11 

64 

71 

43 

29 

54 

55 

34 

5 

47 

38 

78 

107 

39 

17 

39 

18 

36 

9 

63 

68 

61 

63 

39 

19 

55 

57 

yi 

II 

52 

50 

62 

66 

62 

67 

44 

■hl^ 

82 

15 

53 

52 

71 

92 

45 

34 

46 

yi 

43 

29 

44 

V- 

43 

3' 

4^> 

3^> 

92 


A   NATURALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


Spirrow,  White-throated, 
Spizella  socialis, 
Spotted  Sandpiper, 
Squatarola  helvetica, 
Sterna  hirundo, 
Sterna  macroura. 
Stone  Chat, 
Stormy  Petrel, 
Strepsilas  interpres, 
Sula  bassana, 
Summer  Warbler, 
Surnia  iilula. 
Swallow,  Bank, 
Swallow,  White-bellied, 
Swamp  Sparrow, 
Syrnium  nebulosum,* 


T. 

Tachyceneta  bicolor. 
Teal,  Blue-win<xed, 
Teal,  Green-winged, 
Tern,  Arctic, 
Tern,  Common, 
Thrush,  Golden-crowned, 
Thrush,  Hermit, 
Thrush,  (31ive-backcd, 
Thrush,  Water, 
Titmouse,  Hudsonian. 
Totanus  flavipes, 
Totanus  melanoleucus , 


PAGE 

45 

45 
66 

57 
75 
76 

34 

76 

62 

72 

37 

55 
40 

40 

43 
53 


Nf). 

35 
34 
7«S 
6f 
100 
10 1 

5 

102 

65 
94 
13 
53 
21 
20 

3' 
51 


40 

20 

70 

88 

70 

<S7 

1<^ 

lOI 

75 

100 

39 

17 

12> 

2 

34 

3 

39 

18 

36 

8 

66 

n 

^b- 

76 

Traill's  Flycatcher, 
Triuij^a  alpina, 
Trin<;a  Ijonapartei, 
Trini^a  canutus, 
Triiiij^a  macul  ita, 
Trini^a  minutilla, 
Tringa  maritima, 
Trin<^oides  macularius, 
Turdus  miij^ratorius, 
Turdus  pallasi, 
Turdus  swainsoni, 
Turnstone, 


C. 


PACE 

Nf). 

49 

41 

64 

72 

64 

71 

64 

11 

64 

70 

63 

69 

81 

6 

66 

7-S 

y:> 

I 

11 

^ 

Uria  grylle, 
Utamania  torda, 


W. 

Warbler,  Black-poll, 
Warbler,  Black-and-yellow, 
Warbler,  Summer, 
Warbler,  Yellow-rumpled, 
Water  Thrush, 
Wheatear 

White-bellied  Swallow, 
White-crowned  Sparrow. 
White-rumpled  Sandpiper, 
White-throated  Sparrow, 
While- wiui^ed  Crossbill, 
Willi  (}oose, 


34 
62 


78 
11 


38 


loS 
105 


38 

16 

V 

13 

38 

14 

39 

18 

34 

5 

40 

20 

46 

36 

64 

71 

45 

J)5 

41 

25 

69 

85 

*  For  Syrnuim  lubulosutu,  lage  53,  read  Syrnium  nebulosum. 


INDEX. 


93 


Willow  Ptarmisxan, 
Wilson's   Petrel. 
Wilson's  Phalarope, 
Wilson's  Snipe, 
Wilson's  Tern, 
Winter  Wren, 
Woocli)ecker,  Downy, 
Woodpecker,  Golden-winged, 
Woodpecker,  Hairy, 
Wren,  Winter, 


i'.\r.i: 

57 
76 
81 
62 

36 

51 
52 
51 
36 


NO 
60 

1^3 

3 
66 

100 

10 

47 
48 
46 

ID 


Y. 

Yellow  Warbler, 
Yellow-bellied   Flycatcher, 
Yello\v-runii)le(l   Warbler, 
Yellow-shanks, 

Z. 

Zonotrichia  all)icollis, 
Zonotrichia  leuco])hrys, 


'.\(.H 

NO. 

V 

»3 

50 

43 

3-^ 

14 

66 

11 

45 
46 


35 
36 


THE   ENO. 


